- The Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa
- Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women
Australia and Samoa are teaming up to launch a new Regional Sports Hub in the Pacific that will help foster new generations of sports talent across our region.
Even though COVID-19 may be keeping us physically apart for now, the new PacificAus Sports Regional Hub in Apia will bring Pacific nations together and build on our shared love of sport.
The Hub will deliver activities funded by PacificAus Sports from 2020 through to 2023, including supporting training and competition for Pacific athletes, teams and sports administrators.
Prime Minister of Samoa, the Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, welcomed Australia's decision to host the Hub in Samoa, given the special role of sport in our relationship.
"As friends and rivals in sport, we bring out the best in each other. By establishing this Hub, we are helping our regional sports community grow together," Prime Minister Tuilaepa said. "My government is pleased to see Australia investing further in the Pacific sports sector. Sport doesn't just build mutual respect and pride in Samoa and in our region - sport brings us together through our shared heroes and achievements."
The Hub also reinforces Australia's commitment to the Pacific Step-up in Samoa and to high performance sport across the Pacific.
"Our Pacific family is bursting with sporting talent," said Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne. "By investing in initiatives such as PacificAus Sports, we are working together to unlock even more potential in new generations.
"It will also help to create more opportunities for women and girls to take their place as champions in a Pacific sporting arena."
The Regional Hub will act as an administrative office of PacificAus Sports. Staff will help deliver, coordinate and promote Australia's commitment to Pacific sport, including the training and travel of Pacific athletes, teams and sports administrators.
This new bricks and mortar presence will strengthen Pacific sports relationships.
Announced at events held simultaneously in Apia and Sydney, the Hub will enable Australia to respond to local and regional sporting opportunities, while supporting the aspirations of Pacific sports stars to compete internationally, when travel conditions allow.
PacificAus Sports aims to build sustainable, elite sport pathways between Australia and the Pacific to ultimately help our region to lift its game.
