Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau’s ‘Ātui’anga ki te Tango (AKTT) returns to the Cook Islands Beach Games volleyball tournament after missing out last year.

The volleyball tournament marks the finale of the 2024 Beach Games, concluding today.

AKTT has fielded two men’s teams, AKTT Rangi and AKTT Moana, and two women’s teams, AKTT Te Manu Kura and AKTT Ūpaki.

Kōrero o te ‘Ōrau secretary Jackie Rongo explained: “We participated in the Beach Games two years ago and missed last year as we took our Rarotonga students to Mangaia to join AKTT Atiu and Mangaia students.”

“We had set up a one-day volleyball tournament in Mangaia last year to compensate for missing the 2023 Beach Games.”

The teams are thrilled to be back in the competition this year, according to Rongo.

“The students have matured and have taken their love of volleyball and AKTT to the next level. This tournament will be about having fun and kicking off our 2024 AKTT activities together,” she added.

Ten men’s and women’s teams are competing in the tournament, which started yesterday and continues today at the Nikao Beach Courts.

The teams are:

Men’s: AKTT-1, Brew Crew, KB Acers, Bounty Spikers, AKTT-2, Outlaws, CISNOC, Humaia Bouz, MIXPac, Lol Horsey.

Women’s: AKTT-1, K Gals, AKTT 2, Project 5, Bounty Spikers, KB Patapata, CISNOC-1, CISNOC 2, Brew Crew, Vibes

The beach volleyball competition resumes today at 10am, with finals at 5pm.