Cook Islands Games Opening Ceremony

The Cook Islands Games are now underway.
They were postponed from April 2008 until now so that they could be used as a practice run for the forthcoming Pacific Mini Games in September.
The programme for the opening ceremony was relatively straightforward. Dignitaries, anthems, drums and chants, parade and entry of teams to Te Atukura, games flag and torch being carried from the CISNOC office by named codes and athletes.
The trouble was, nobody seems to have told the teams about it.
Or as CINews charitably put it on Saturday, “Athletes must have been too busy training for their games … as only a few made an appearance at yesterday’s opening ceremony.”
Four teams showed up, Aitutaki, Mangaia, RAMA (Rakahanga and Manihiki) and Puaikura who provided the entertainment.
The opening started about half an hour late but at least it was short and sweet.
And the start of the CI Games shows that practice is certainly needed before the big one.