On 22 November 2013 Samoa
will be welcoming the Queen’s Baton Relay as part of the prelude to the
Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow in 2014. The relay is a much loved
tradition of the Commonwealth Games and symbolises the coming together of all
Commonwealth nations and territories in preparation for the four-yearly
festival of sport and culture.
Samoa made its Commonwealth
Games debut in 1974 and has only missed one since, winning medals in both
boxing and weightlifting. To celebrate the arrival of the Queen’s Baton, Samoa
will be showcasing the destination’s eclectic mix of art, culture, tradition,
gastronomy and sport that constitutes the Fa’a Samoa – the Samoan way of life.
Samoa is fast becoming the
sports capital of the South Pacific. Rugby is almost a second religion for
Samoans and with traditional sports such as Kilikiti – Samoan cricket – and a variety
of other sporting activities such as game fishing tournaments, fautasi long
boat racing, the Samoa Half-Iron long distance triathlon and the Samoa Swim
Series.
Celebrations will also
involve a feast, known as an umu, cooked the traditional Samoan way in an earth
oven heated with hot stones. The food is prepared and placed amongst the hot
stones and covered with banana leaves to seal in the heat. Visitors are advised
to try the delicacies
on the Samoan menu including palusami (young taro leaves baked in coconut
cream) and oka, (raw fish in coconut cream).
Over a period of 288 days
the baton will visit 70 nations and territories, cover 190,000 kilometres and
involve a third of the world's population, making it the world's most engaging
relay.
On 9 October 2013 the
Queen's Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace, at a ceremony where Her
Majesty The Queen placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and
will conclude its journey at the Games opening ceremony in Glasgow on 23 July
2014. For more information visit www.glasgow2014.com.
-ENDS-
For more
information please contact:
Samoa Tourism
Authority
Anna
Wolstenholme
Tel: +44
208 877 4511
E-mail: anna@representationplus.co.uk
Visit: www.samoa.travel
Notes
to editors:
Samoa: The Treasured Islands of the South Pacific
The islands of Samoa - The
Treasured Islands of the South Pacific - are the true heart of Polynesia and
Samoa is one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise. Ten islands
of stunning wild beauty, Samoa - or Independent Samoa as it is now known so as
to avoid confusion with American Samoa, is paradise waiting to be explored.
From powder soft beaches, to warm tropical seas, colourful coral reefs alive
with marine life. The rugged, lush interiors reveal endless wildlife,
waterfalls and hiking trails.
Air New Zealand operates
daily flights via Los Angeles and Auckland (except Sundays). Auckland to Samoa
is a short 4 hour flight time. Virgin Samoa offers direct flights from Auckland
to Samoa six days a week (except Sunday) and twice a week from Sydney, plus
once a week from Brisbane. Air Pacific fly direct from Fiji and once a week
from Honolulu in Hawaii. The main entry point into Samoa is Falelolo
International Airport, 35 kms from Apia on the island of Upolu.
