The 6th Manea Games was officially opened on Mangaia yesterday with songs, dance and promises of government assistance for future games. About 100 of the 300 games athletes were part of the opening ceremony as athletes are still making their way to Mangaia for the games.

Despite the small numbers, Mangaia turned up the heat and the revelry to make the visiting athletes and officials welcomed. Warriors conducted a turou for officials including minister of sports Mark Brown and CISNOC officials, prime minister Henry Puna and his delegation, House of Ariki president Travel Tou Ariki and Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to the Oneroa sports grounds for the ceremony.

Once seated under shade on the hard courts competing islands marched through singing and dancing for officials. Missing from the parade was the island of Atiu. At this stage Atiu will not be part of the games as according to officials, the island left it too late to organise their travels. However the island could still well be a part of the games if Atiu islanders living on Mangaia and Rarotonga step up to represent the island but officials are yet to confirm their final decision on the islands participation. Funds, or the lack of it, were the talking points of the Manea Games opening ceremony.

CI New understands that government funding has assisted the teams travel to Mangaia but lack of funding was why the island of Atiu is not part of the games this year. Minister of sports Mark Brown congratulated the Manea Games organising committee for preparing playing fields and lodging for the athletes despite the lack funds.

Everyone here will be representing their islands so you will all be carrying the hopes of your islands, said Brown. You will be carrying the honour of your people waiting to hear how you have done at the games. In his address, prime minister Henry Puna told the gathered athletes that the event wasnt about him but about all the athletes.

Sport is one of the strongest ropes that brings our people together, Puna said in maori before delivering some good news for the island athletes. You dont have to worry about funding for future games and just how this will happen will be revealed over the next few days when we visit the teams. This good news was met with a rowdy applause.

Puna then told the athletes that it didnt matter how much they trained or sweat because what counts is performing from the heart. The difference between the impossible and the possible is a mans determination. With those words the prime minister declared the Manea Games open. Mangaia school students entertained dignitaries after the formal ceremony before taking off to join their friends to take part in the traditional games of the 10-day sporting event. The 6th Manea Games was officially opened on Mangaia yesterday with songs, dance and promises of government assistance for future games.

About 100 of the 300 games athletes were part of the opening ceremony as athletes are still making their way to Mangaia for the games. Despite the small numbers, Mangaia turned up the heat and the revelry to make the visiting athletes and officials welcomed.

Warriors conducted a turou for officials including minister of sports Mark Brown and CISNOC officials, prime minister Henry Puna and his delegation, House of Ariki president Travel Tou Ariki and Queens Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin to the Oneroa sports grounds for the ceremony.

• Matariki Wilson

Following a meeting between the heads of delegation and CISNOC it was agreed as Mauke (Akatokamanava) put their hands up to host the next Manea Games which is sc hedule for 2014. At the Closing ceremony of the 2011 Manea Games, the announcement was that we will all meet in Akatokamanava in 2014, the Minister of Sports mentioned that he had attended every Manea Games since it startedm however had missed 1999 when Akatokamanava hosted, but he did say he will definately attend in 2014 when Akatokamanava host.

The 2011 Games were closed by the Minister of Sports, Hon Mark Brown, speaking at the closing ceremony were Snr Vice President of CISNOC George Paniani and the Games Director of the 2011 Manea Games.

Closing ceremony was easy and straight forward, and everyone enjoyed it...

Congraulations to Mangaia for a successful hosting of the Manea Games, an outstanding job and a great achievement, meitaki maata, tangike, tangike, kua matou ua tatou.

Aitutaki as previous games showed they were the power house when it came to Rugby s and Netball, but they didnt do it easily as the host Island Mangaia gave them competition in both sports. The Under 18 Netball saw the officials look at how to resolve the tie between Aitutaki and Mangaia, however Aitutaki was stronger in the goals for area so they picked up the Gold again. Like the Under 18 the Open game also proved to be a battle, and both teams playing at their best, final score Aitutaki 28, Mangaia 25.

In the Rugby 7s saw the same thing as the Netball, and the surprise came from Mitiaro who held Aitutaki Under 18 to a 5 - 0 score, Mitiaro losing, however feeling good about hold Aitutaki to only 1 try. Mangaia Open Men also showed some class and style, but like always Aitutaki played outstandingly with another Gold. Aitutaki 7s will be represented at the International 7s in November 2011, same team...

Like 2008 Manea Games again Aitutaki clean-sweep the Touch competition at the 2011 Manea Games. Aitutaki showed some skills out on the field as well as speed... Mangaia also showed that they are an Island to be looked at as competition was between them and Aitutaki, Mangaia picked up the silver medal in all four categories.

Mauke also performed outstandingly, likewise Mitiaro Open Women. Mitiaro Open Men couldent field a team due to the regulations being that Under 18 players were not allowed to play in the Open once registered for the Open Category.

Congratulation Aitutaki... The Minister of Sports Hon. Mark Brown addressed all the participating teams also went onto congratulate the Organising Committee for an outstanding and hosting of the Touch Competition at these Manea Games.

Its is another first at the Manea Games in the sport of Football, since the games started back in 1997, none of the Islands have won all three categories in Football. Today Mangaia made history by winning all three categories, Under 18 Men and the Opem Men and Women, and they did this by winning all their games throughout the round.

Congratulation to Mangaia Football and to Cook Islands Football Association for an outstanding host of the 2011 Manea Games Football event.

Tangike, Tangike...

Through Cook Islands Red Cross funding was sourced to assist and run a "SAFE GAMES" promotion, as mentioned at the Pacific Ministers Conference held last month in New Caledonia, to promote our games as per...

The participating Islands of the Manea zone are getting this for the first time as any zone games, and the education that goes with safe games. Each athlete will receive a bag which contains a pareau, hot drink holder, hand sanitizer and other goodies which the athlete can use.

congratulations to Cook Islands Red Cross for their support and assistance to the Manea Games in Mangaia, meitaki maata.

Day 4 of Manea Games saw Cricket start their Women's games at 8.30am with Mangaia and Mauke with Mangaia coming out as winners. Aitutaki played their first game against the unexperienced Mitiaro and winning that game, however Aitutaki's second game proved to be a little tough against the Mauken heavy weights who came out winning that games over Aitutaki. At the end of the day there was a 3 way tie between Mauke, Aitutaki and the host Mangaia, so tomorrow should prove to be a day which the 3 Islands will be making sure everything is as to their game plan.

Tennis continued from yesterday with the Under 18 Men and Women playing majority of their games with Medal Presentations tomorrow. Open Men and Women will continue with their games tomorrow, followed by the presentation of medals

With the Cricket and Tennis possibly concluding their games tomorrow, Saturday will be a Picnic Day for all the participants...

Since the Manea Games started Aitutaki has proven to be the team or Island to beat in Volleyball, and like the Women yesterday, the Men prove that they were the best within the Manea zone, and for the 6th time are champions of the Volleyball court at the Manea Games. However Aitutaki didnt win easily as competition came from Mangaia in both categories with set points like 25 - 23, and with the host Island in full support of their team, the games were tough.

Volleyball in the Manea zone is alive and will continue to be a sport played at the Manea Games as it draws the spectators....

Tennis started their day with the Vets Competition, preliminary and finals were played today with medal presentation tomorrow morning.

Table Tennis concluded this afternoon with the host Island Mangaia picking up and couple more gold medals to their tally at these games, results are posted in the results table.

Tonight Darts fly at Babes Bar with the Open Men and Women competitions, playing singles and doubles... three teams per Island will compete in each category of the Darts competition at these games, results will be posted tomorrow morning.

Aitutaki men volleyballers followed in the footsteps of their women folk yesterday collecting the gold medals in both the open and under 18 divisions. Another blistering day on Mangaia made for an exciting mens volleyball tournament at the Manea Games hardcourts in Oneroa.

Both the Aitutaki men and under 18 teams looked sharp from the start of the day but they were given a run for the gold by host Mangaia.

But after disposing of the Mangaia men Aitutaki were a shoe in for the gold with the Mauke and Mitiaro team giving Aitutaki little trouble. Mangaia open men, who only lost one game to Aitutaki, picked up the silver medal while the men from Mauke with ring-in star Robert Graham picking up the bronze medal.

In the under 18 division, games were closely fought and in the match between Aitutaki and Mangaia the game went right down to the wire. In fact, it was the first game of the tournament to go to a tie breaker with Aitutaki winning the first set and Mangaia fighting back to take the second set and force the tie breaker set. But miscalculated spikes and serves were the undoing of Mangaia who were outclassed in the end by the fancy Aitutaki boys who after winning the game took out the gold medal.

Mangaia were still happy with their silver medal while the young boys from Mauke beat Mitiaro for the bronze medal.

• Matariki Wilson

Aitutaki women remain the Manea volleyball champions a title the island has held for over 14 years. The Aitutaki womens volleyball team went straight to business at yesterdays open womens and under 18 womens volleyball tournament on Mangaia.

The skilful side won all three of their games against Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro to take the gold medal.

The Mangaia womens team, made up of players both from the island and Rarotonga, only lost to Aitutaki and defeating Mauke and Mitiaro was enough to secure the silver medal. The last game of the day was the silver and bronze medal playoff match between host island Mangaia and Mitiaro after Aitutaki already clearly had the gold in the bag. Mitiaro, lead by national volleyball player Moari Allsworth, were fired up at the start of the day and certainly looked good for a side made up mostly of first time players.

The side put up a good fight against Mangaia in the final game of the day but Mangaia, egged on by their vocal supporters, just had the edge over Mitiaro to win the game two sets to nil and snap up the silver medal.

The Mauke womens team made up of the islands mamas only played one game in the tournament and were happy enough to place 4th. In the under 18 womens tournament the results were exactly the same as the open womens tournament. Young Aitutaki women dominated the tournament to take the gold medal and were closely followed by an equally talented Mangaia side who won the silver medal. The bronze medal went to a tenacious Mitiaro side that edged out a young Mauke side for the medal. Today open men and under 18 players will take to the court for their tournament in what will be an exciting tournament.

Today is also the last day of table tennis and darts will begin this evening. Aitutaki women remain the Manea volleyball champions a title the island has held for over 14 years. The Aitutaki womens volleyball team went straight to business at yesterdays open womens and under 18 womens volleyball tournament on Mangaia.

The skilful side won all three of their games against Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro to take the gold medal. The Mangaia womens team, made up of players both from the island and Rarotonga, only lost to Aitutaki and defeating Mauke and Mitiaro was enough to secure the silver medal. The last game of the day was the silver and bronze medal playoff match between host island Mangaia and Mitiaro after Aitutaki already clearly had the gold in the bag.

Mitiaro, lead by national volleyball player Moari Allsworth, were fired up at the start of the day and certainly looked good for a side made up mostly of first time players. The side put up a good fight against Mangaia in the final game of the day but Mangaia, egged on by their vocal supporters, just had the edge over Mitiaro to win the game two sets to nil and snap up the silver medal.

The Mauke womens team made up of the islands mamas only played one game in the tournament and were happy enough to place 4th. In the under 18 womens tournament the results were exactly the same as the open womens tournament.

Young Aitutaki women dominated the tournament to take the gold medal and were closely followed by an equally talented Mangaia side who won the silver medal. The bronze medal went to a tenacious Mitiaro side that edged out a young Mauke side for the medal. Today open men and under 18 players will take to the court for their tournament in what will be an exciting tournament. Today is also the last day of table tennis and darts will begin this evening.

• Matariki Wilson

Young and beautiful Ms Kiriana Ngatamariki only a few weeks ago won the Miss Mangaia title and last night she took the Miss Manea Games title also. Ever since the Miss Manea started back in 2002, on Mitiaro, young Aitutakian girls have taken the crown of Miss Manea Games, however young Ngata,ariki won every category last night to win the crown, congratulation...

Like previous Manea Games Traditional Games are held, this is one way of maintaining our heritage and traditional sports.The host Island decide on the sports to be hosted, so for these games Mangaia have choosen the following traditional sports, Pei Tupe, Rore Oro, Rore Akata and Rangaranga, just a few at these games. The competition commenced at 2pm also at the same time the Table Tennis kick-off there tournament with the Under 15 Age Group games, and medals were won also by participating Islands.

Telecom Results and Medal Tally will be posted later this evening...

Rore (stilt) races are still being held on Mangaia as children too young for the Manea Games make their own fun with the wooden stilts.

On Monday, Manea Games athletes competed in a number of challenging and fun traditional games including rore sprints and wrestling, lime juggling and the most challenging of all tupe (disc throwing).

We share more of the fun and laughs from Matariki Wilson attending the traditional games day at the Manea Games.

Hon. Henry Puna Prime Minister of the Cook Islands opens the 6th Manea Games in Mangaia, the PM was accompanied by the Hon. Mark Brown Minister of Sports, President of the House of Ariki, CISNOC Secretary General Rosie Blake and CISNOC Vice President Criss Foster.

Four of the five Islands were represented a these games, Aitutaki, Mauke, Mitiaro and Mangaia, with 320 athletes and officials who will participate in these games over the next 12 days.

Mangaia Aronga Mana and Island turned out to support the opening...