The Olympic bandwagon seems to be rolling fast at present (actually, I think there is a whole Oregon Trail of bandwagons). This email is to fill you all in on what I perceive to be happening re Kiribati.
I am sending this update to all with Kiribati connections for whom I have email addresses; please feel free to send it on to anyone else who you think might like to receive it. Equally, if you have any knowledge or intelligence which I lack, please contact me!
BOXERS
There are two boxers here at present, training near Crewe. They will be here until March next year, when they travel to Australia for the Qualifying rounds for Oceania. (The Kiribati weightlifters, who are the other main contenders for the London Olympics, are training in New Caledonia).
The boxers are financially supported by an organisation called British Friends of Kiribati, which is primarily a group of businessmen based in Hertfordshire interested in sport. The boxers have also been adopted by a local school and will be visiting it as part of their Christmas break programme (see below).
At the specific request of the President of the Kiribati Boxing Association, Derek Andrewartha, the KTA will host the boxers during their Christmas break. The Chairman, Nei Beta, is organising their programme.
The KTA will also perform at a 'Dance Extravaganza' in Cheshire with the local Malbank School of Dance, and MMU Cheshire's Department of Contemporary Dance to wish the boxers luck and 'bon voyage' before they depart for Australia. This public event will take place in February / early March and as details are completed I shall keep you all in the picture. Proceeds will go to a Kiribati Charity or charities connected to children and/or sport.
KIRIBATI NOC
I am in regular contact with the Kiribati NOC. There are likely to be 17 or 18 Team Kiribati attendees for the actual Games (of whom 3-4 will actually be competing).
I shall be attending part of the ONOC Regional Forum to be held in London on Wednesday 30th November. Members of the National Olympic Committees(NOC), International Olympic Committee (IOC), LOCOG and Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) Management team will be in attendance.
We shall not know whether the Beretitenti or other Ministers will attend part of the Games until he/she is elected and the new Government in Kiribati makes its plans.
PROMOTING KIRIBATI TOURISM
Kiribati Tourism has asked me for assistance in maximising tourist opportunities on the back of the Games, and I shall be keeping in close touch with George Kum Kee on this. We will be involving our dancers in particular. Again I shall make you aware of events etc. as these materialise.
UK GOVERNMENT
I continue to attend confidential briefings at the FCO and the Metropolitan Police where necessary and relevant, although I have to be selective as they could be almost a full time occupation!
Hope this is helpful
Michael
Honorary Consul at London
