Pacific flags fly at start of Games

Pacific athletes have taken their place at the colourful opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Representatives from 13 Pacific nations paraded across the ground, Scottish Terriers trotting ahead of them.

For three athletes chosen to carry their national flags, it was a moment of enormous pride.

“I feel happy for carrying the flag for my country,” i-Kiribati weightlifter David Katoatau said at the ceremony.

Katoatau represented Kiribati at the Olympic Games in Beijing and London. He says he wants to win gold for his country.

It is the second Commonwealth Games for Samoa’s flag bearer, weightlifter Ele Opeloge.

“My country is very proud, and my family and my team in Samoa, I’m very happy myself,” she said. Lawn bowler Litia Tikoisuva carried Fiji’s flag into the stadium, an opportunity made possible after a Commonwealth ban on Fiji’s participation in the games was lifted.

“I’m very really honoured to do that and at the same time a privilege and humble to be asked to do a big task as carrying the Fiji’s flag,” she said.

This is Fiji’s first Commonwealth Games since Melbourne in 2006.

Fiji was banned from the Commonwealth Games in 2009 after refusing free and fair elections.

The ban was lifted in March, giving Fiji just four months to prepare for the games.