15 Sep 2012

Call for second medal ceremony for Valerie Adams

7:28 am on 15 September 2012

A Pacific Island Auckland councillor says there should be a second medal ceremony in South Auckland for Olympic champion shot putter Valerie Adams.

Adams is to be presented with her gold medal at The Cloud venue on the city's waterfront next Wednesday in an event limited to 2000 ticket-holders.

Auckland's Tongan Advisory Council and the New Zealand Tongan Sports and Cultural Trust say the event should be held in South Auckland because Adams, who is Tongan, grew up there.

Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina says the Pacific community would love to celebrate Adams' achievement in their own backyard.

He says she should be acknowledged at a venue that's appropriate for the community, so they can remember where she came from.