Dear Editor, The article on sports funding for this year’s Pacific Games (CINews 19 October 2023) probably raises more questions than answers.

The Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee chief executive (secretary general) says that he is unable to confirm the amount granted by government, as basically the submissions made to cabinet “are not our submissions”. 

Whose submissions are they? Ministry of Cultural Development? 

This is a bit like me having to go through National Environment Service to get assistance for the rugby sevens teams going to the games, and not letting the national federation know about my request to NES. 

If the CEO is oblivious of what is happening around funding requests to government relating to the teams going to Honiara, then he shouldn’t be there. 

As for teams having to fundraise for attendance at the games, the CEO should know that Pacific Games years are crazy on Rarotonga. You can’t go anywhere without someone shoving a raffle or ticket (or a plastic ice cream container) in your face. All the codes are trying to squeeze money from basically the same people. There should be some form of government assistance afforded to codes to attend the four-yearly event. 

Also, I find it strange as to why he cannot answer the question on how many CISNOC officials are attending the games. I guess the newspaper is probably wanting to know who the accredited media person is.  

It is my understanding that the media person taken to the 2019 Games in Samoa was someone who knew how to post things on Facebook; the person who went to the 2021 Mini Games was the partner of an official, and the person who attended the 2022 Commonwealth Games was also a partner of a team manager. I hear the person who is going to Honiara is someone who is into tattooing. 

With “financial accountability” comes transparency. If the CEO has nothing to hide, then he should come out and say so. 

Moana Moeka’a

Ruatonga

Editor’s note: Cook Islands News has reached out to CISNOC for a response to this letter.