Opeloge may get monetary reward

SAMOA – Pressure is mounting on the Samoa government to do more to recognise Ele Opeloge’s achievement of winning the country’s first ever Olympic medal.

The weightlifter was upgraded from fourth to second place in the women’s over 75kg division at the 2008 Beijing Games, after two competitors were disqualified for drugs.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, said last month the Government’s policy was to only offer monetary awards for gold medal winners.

The Samoa Observer newspaper has since started a fund to raise money for the 31-year-old, which has been backed by the Presidents of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation and the Samoa Association of National Olympic Committees.

Our correspondent in Samoa, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, believed a change of heart from the government was not far away.

“Talking to people that are close to the Prime Minister, I think they are looking at making a monetary award for Ele,” he said.

“But they want to make it a very low-profile at this time because the weightlifting federations is organising the ceremony for the presentation of the silver medal.”

A ceremony to present the silver medal to Ele Opeloge is expected to be held in Apia later this month.

The President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation says there is a big difference between winning an Olympic medal and success at the Commonwealth Games.

Ele and Niusila Opeloge and Faavae Faauliuli all won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi seven years ago.

The President of the Samoa Weightlifting Federation, Tuaopepe Asiata Jerry Wallwork, was their coach.

“Back in 2010 in Delhi Commonwealth Games the government reward was 50,000 tala for the gold medallists,” he said.

“They got a good substantial amount and it’s a Commonwealth Games. We’re looking at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics and there’s a big difference there.”

“There’s a vast difference in the level of competition and the achievements and the total weights that they’re doing in the Commonwealth compared to the totals that they’re doing at the Olympic Games,” Tuaopepe said. - RNZI