Olympic uniform unveiled

Team Cook Islands athletes preparing to represent the country at the London Olympics will no doubt be one of the best dressed teams.

The team uniforms were officially unveiled and blessed at a special ceremony on Thursday night hosted by Prime Minister Henry Puna.

Track athletes Patricia Taea and Patrick Tuara joined by Miss Cook Islands Teuira Napa modelled the green TAV formal uniforms and well as the Turtles training gear and tracksuit.

Female athletes will top their outfits off with an ei katu and the men will wear woven rito hats.

The function also served to acknowledge sponsors of the team including Tourism Cook Islands, Turtles Tees and fashion boutique TAV Ltd.

The athletes and officials still on Rarotonga are due to depart for the games on July 23.

In total, the team will be made up of 18 people – eight athletes and 10 officials.

Chef de mission George George Williamson, team administration Siniva Marsters, swimmers Celeste Brown and Zachary Tepaia Payne accompanied by team manager Romani Katoa and team coach Hugh Dokter, sprinters Patricia Taea and Patrick Tuara accompanied by team manager/coach John Teiti, slalom canoeist Ella Nicholas and her mother/team manager Sue Clarke and coach Aaron Osborne, fellow slalom canoeist Josh Utanga accompanied by his coach Joel Simpson, national sailor Helema Williams accompanied by manager Anne Tierney and coach Ben Paton, and weightlifter Luisa Peters accompanied by manager Unakea Kauvai and coach Sam Pera Snr.