19 Jul 2007

No discrimination of gay athletes says Samoa SPG chairman

1:52 pm on 19 July 2007

The chairman of Samoa's organising committee for the South Pacific Games has dismissed suggestions that the committee and leaders of the SPG team are discriminating against gay or lesbian athletes.

The leaders published in the Samoa Observer newspaper a set of rules for the games that included a ban on gay or lesbian activities.

However, Vaeolenofoafia Tapasu Leung Wai says the rules for the Samoan athletes during the games are to ensure they have a good conduct and healthy lifestyle throughout the period of the games.

Vaeolenofoafia regrets that it appeared that homosexual people were being singled out.

He says it was never intended to discriminate against any particular group but the rules of no alcohol, smoking and sexual activity within the games village applies to all athletes.