Two young Tongan sisters in Samoa were lucky to talk face to face with Olympian Valerie Adams while she was waiting to talk to an audience in Apia.
Adams was in Samoa as New Zealand’s first Sport Ambassador to the Pacific.
The two sisters, nine-year-old Rosa and four-year-old ‘Amelia Enoka were vying to get close to the shotput queen when Adams noticed they were wearing royal blue T-Shirts with Tongan logos and names on them.
Adams, who has Tongan heritage and can speak Tongan,  instantly asked ‘Amelia if she was Tongan.
‘Amelia’s mother Taina Kami Enoka posted on Facebook: “Valerie pulled up close and started reading what was on her t-shirt. ‘Ko e Tonga koe? Translated: (Are you Tongan?) Fuoloa hoomou ‘i heni? Translated: Have you been here long? “You’re the first Tongans I’ve met here.
Taina, a senior Tongan journalist who contributes to various Samoan and Tongans news outlets told Kaniva News Adams was on her “last stop at the Nobesity programme for children, before she returned to the hotel and off to the airport.â€
The three time Olympic medallist returned to New Zealand yesterday after visiting Tonga and Samoa where she conducted coaching for promising athletes.
She did physical exercises with school children athletes, met with public figures and visited some of New Zealand’ sport programme in the Pacific including the Just Programme.
She was on her last stop in Samoa to visit the Nobesity Kids Programme at the Cricket field in Tuanaimato when she was approached by Rosa and four-year-old ‘Amelia.
The Nobesity Samoa programme encourages kids to eat properly and exercise.
Taina said: “Valerie encouraged kids to eat the colours of the rainbow as it will make them strong. Strong is beautifulâ€.
“Do you know what it means to eat the colours of the rainbow? Yes? It’s very important as young children to eat the colours of the rainbow so you can be big and strong. Strong is beautiful!â€
The phrase “eat the rainbow†was a reminder to people that a variety of fruit and vegetables in their diet would give them the vitamins and minerals they needed.
While Adams was in Tonga she told those who she met at physical exercise to “”Move! Move yourself to a healthier lifestyle!â€
“If I can get one family or one child moving to live a better lifestyle for themselves – then our future looks a little bit brighter for these kids,†the double-gold Olympic medallist said
Adams said if Tongans spent 30 minutes of moving a day it would help them to live a healthier life.
Catching up with All Blacks and Manu Samoa
When she was in Apia, Adams caught up with All Black players and posed for photos.
Actually, they were not quite the All Blacks and Manu Samoa players in the flesh, but just cut out pictures of them that were erected in places in Samoa.
The double Olympics gold medallist has posted a photo of her and a cut-out of SBW on Instagram.
“Good to catch up with the bro @SonnyBWilliams while in Samoa,” she posted.
.Good to catch up with the bro @SonnyBWilliams while in Samoa. ????? pic.twitter.com/5E8ilKITMq
— Valerie Adams (@ValerieAdams84) November 3, 2016
The main points
- Two young Tongan sisters in Samoa were lucky to talk face to face with Olympian Valerie Adams while she was waiting to talk to an audience in Apia.
- Adams was in Samoa as New Zealand’s first Sport Ambassador to the Pacific.
- She was on her last stop in Samoa to visit the Nobesity Kids Programme at the cricket field in Tuanaimato when she was approached by nine-years’-old Rosa and four-years-old ‘Amelia Enoka.
- The three time Olympic medallist returned to New Zealand yesterday after visiting Tonga and Samoa where she conducted coaching for promising athletes.
For more information
Ambassador Valerie Adams’ visit to kingdom “so much fun” and “super awesome”
