14 Dec 2017

Sport: Tiny Tokelau makes a big mark at Mini Games

From , 4:01 pm on 14 December 2017

Tokelau is one of the smallest delegations at this month's Pacific Mini Games, with only three athletes, but is hopeful this is just the start of an increased presence at future events.

The New Zealand territory, which has a local population of just 1500, only sent one athlete to the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea and had initially planned not to send anybody to the Mini Games in Vanuatu.

But Ilai Elekana Manu, who has won eight Oceania medals representing Tokelau in wrestling, told Vinnie Wylie a chance encounter with the Pacific Games Council chief executive Andrew Minogue earlier this year, motivated him to assemble a team.

Ilai Elekana Manu and Peter Elekana show off Tokelau's silverware at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu.

Ilai Elekana Manu and Peter Elekana show off Tokelau's silverware at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. Photo: RNZI/Vinnie Wylie