More than 300 netball players from 33 teams will take to the Multi Sports Arena double courts in Nikao for the week long 2024 BSP Netball in Paradise tournament starting on Saturday, November 30.

This year marks the 11^th instalment of the Netball in Paradise tournament that has a two-fold purpose in stimulating sports tourism in the Cook Islands and raising funds for Netball Cook Islands.

Ensuring the annual event happens and runs to international standard is the naming sponsorship support by Bank South Pacific (BSP) who have this year provided $10,000 in sponsorship funding to the Turama Pacific Travel Group’s dedicated event management team Destination Management Cook Islands (DMCK) who have been the event promoters, administrators and tournament managers of the annual Netball in Paradise since 2016.

This year, 29 overseas teams from netball clubs across Aotearoa and Australia will compete in the social but high calibre netball tournament joined by four local based teams eager to display their local style of play and for sure pick up some new skills.

Joining the visiting netball players are qualified umpires that ensure games at Netball in Paradise are run to a high standard and supporting groups of families and friends sure to create a festive vibe at the Nikao multi sports arena.

Bank South Pacific sponsorship includes support resources for umpires including t-shirts, caps, sports face towels and even a whistle – to acknowledge and show respect for sports officials for who without – there’d be no fun and games in paradise!

Off the courts – Netball in Paradise teams and supporters are sure to get out in the community and happily stimulate the economy by booking tours and visiting attractions in between netball games.

Many of the teams are regular attendees and have built a culture of giving and sharing while visiting and will be out with local clubs reconnecting through the love of netball and making valuable donations of equipment and uniforms to grateful clubs.

For first timers to Netball in Paradise, like the Australian team aptly named “Just wanted A Trip to Raro”, joining the event is a dream come true and a culmination of more than a year of fundraising and planning.

Netball in Paradise includes five divisions namely the fun and skill filled Social Ladies division that includes 12 competing teams, Open Ladies division with four teams while 11 teams will compete in the dynamic and fast Open Mixed division.

While small numbers in the 15 and Under plus 17 and Under divisions means the two grades have been combined to a junior division – games are still set to be hotly contested.

These future stars of netball are sure to shine on court, especially the younger 15 and under teams who will be keen to pit their skills against their older sisters in the 17 and under division who are surely not wanting to be outdone on court – all healthy ingredients for great junior netball games and growth of the sport.

All games will be played at the Nikao multi sports arena and entry is free – so all are welcome to enjoy the high energy Netball in Paradise games.

The opening ceremony of the tournament will be held on Saturday at 9am with a traditional welcome turou and blessing followed by the first games at 10am and running right up to 6pm.

Sunday will be a day of rest and recovery for visiting teams who will no doubt enjoy the local church services and island attractions before gearing up for a full-on week of games resuming at 9am on Monday, December 2, and ending with the finals on Thursday, December 6, before the wrap up party and awards night on Friday, December 7, at The Islander Hotel.

See you all at the Nikao multi sports arena for action packed netball in paradise!

• Nuti Turama