150 athletes to fly Cook Islands flag

One hundred and fifty athletes from 13 sport codes will make up Team Cook Islands to represent the country at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

Joining the athletes at the games that will run from August 27 to September 11 will be 30 local officials.

Originally 15 codes were named to attend the games however two codes have now pulled out of the team.

Swimming has pulled out due to their athletes not meeting the residency clause of the athlete eligibility criteria and cricket players are no longer part of the team due to financial constraints.

The 13 sports Cook Islands athletes will compete in are athletics, beach volleyball, boxing, body building, football, golf, rugby sevens, sailing, squash, tennis, triathlon, oe vaka and weightlifting.

The team will be lead by chef de mission George George, deputy chef de mission Robert Graham and general team managers Elizabeth Tou and Odile Pauka.

George and the CISNOC high performance commission are expected to meet with codes in one-on-one meetings starting next week to gauge the progress of athletes and ask for short lists of athletes likely to make the cut for each code.

Meanwhile all code managers are reminded that the online accreditation of athletes and officials must be filled in before the closing date on July 27 and that 50 percent of the $1500 athlete levy must be paid by July 18.