The Cook Islands Beach Games’ opening, overshadowed by the League Nines in Paradise on Saturday, sparked concerns about scheduling conflicts, prompting organisers to acknowledge the challenge and seek solutions. Losirene Lacanivalu reports.

The League Nines in Paradise, held annually on the first weekend of January, clashed with the opening of the 2024 Cook Islands Beach Games and Beach Netball competition on Saturday.

The annual Cook Islands Beach Games is organised by the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC).

CISNOC secretary general Owen Lewis acknowledged the challenging overlap after a concerned resident raised concerns about the clash between Beach Netball and the League Nines games.

They questioned the logic of running the Beach Games event on the same day as a major tournament like League Nines in Paradise, particularly its impact on participation.

The resident said the Nines in Paradise featured four local women’s teams with at least 60 women participating.

“I am sure many of these players would also like to participate in beach netball.”

They said it was a loss for netball and CISNOC should have considered moving the event to another date to avoid the clash, enabling Cook Islands women access to both events.

Lewis said they understand the impact that the clash between the two events had on the participants.

“The issue at hand is indeed a challenging one, and we understand the impact on the participants and the potential overlap between the two events.”

He said that since the inception of the Cook Islands Beach Games in 2018, the first week of January has proven to be an optimal time, considering the availability of participants who are often on holiday during this period.

Lewis explained that the introduction of netball to the Beach Games last year brought forth new considerations, particularly with the limitation of having only one beach court.

To maintain the two-week schedule and accommodate all codes, an early start was necessary, he said.

“The perception then and this year was that the netball schedule, beginning early in the day and concluding promptly, would mitigate any significant clash with the League Nines.”

However, Lewis added that there was a need for a review and collaborative effort to find a viable solution.

“The logistical challenges presented by the limitations of the beach facility, however, does add complexity to this situation.”