OFFICIAL JOINT ANNOUNCEMET OF SAMOA’S INAUGURAL PARTICIPATION AS AN INDEPENDENT PACIFIC NATION AT THE 2026 TAG WORLD CUP [14 November 2025]

SAMOA, November 13 - KEYNOTE SPEECH by the Honourable Acting Prime Minister Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo

Deacon Tolutasi Pa’ia’aua, Reverend of the Shrine of the Three Hearts, Vaoala Parish

Your Highness the Head of State of Samoa

Honorable Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament,

Chairman International Tag Federation

Chairman of the Samoa Tag Board of Directors

Executive Board of SASNOC and Sports in Samoa,

Chief Executives Officers, Government Ministries

The Private Sectors

Partners in Sports,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Talofa Talofa Talofa lava!!

Thank you for joining this official joint announcement and launch by the Government of Samoa and the International Tag Federation of Samoa’s inaugural participation as an independent Pacific nation at the 2026 Tag World Cup.

The Government of Samoa is deeply proud. Congratulations to Samoa Tag — your perseverance over the past two years has brought us to this moment. You have shown that Tag is a sport for all in Samoa through the clinics in Falealupo, Savai‘i, the Tag for Kids programme and by staging strong local competitions that have reached hundreds of participants. You have worked hard to give Samoa’s Tag athletes real international experience by competing in regional tournaments and the International Tag Series. These steps build skill, confidence, and community pride and have prepared Samoa to represent on the world stage.

The Ministry of Sports and Recreation provides the Government’s clear frameworks and guidance to make this possible. The Ministry’s mandate includes regulation to bring sporting bodies together; development to raise facilities toward international standards; oversight to ensure transparency and accountability; asset management to register and care for government sports equipment; and facility management to improve public recreation areas so Tag athletes and families have safe places to train and gather. These are practical actions that turn ambition into readiness.

We welcome SASNOC’s confirmation of Samoa Tag as an affiliated member. SASNOC’s values of integrity, excellence, and collective responsibility strengthen the pathway from community participation to international representation and reassure families and partners that our Tag athletes, coaches and administration are well supported.

We welcome the presence of the International Tag Federation’s Chair to Samoa. Your presence and recognition of Samoa and Samoa Tag as our National Federation is the blue print for all sports in the Pacific.

Samoa Tag’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan is focused and achievable: stepped training and fitness programmes for Tag athletes, referee and coach development, expanded district tournaments and community clinics, targeted field and equipment upgrades, sustainable funding strategies, and stronger inclusion for women and people with disabilities. I acknowledge the Samoa Tag Board for their stewardship and the leadership of President Faaofonuu JP Leota and all involved for turning vision into action.

To Samoa’s Tag athletes, coaches, volunteers, the Ministry, SASNOC, and all partners: the Government of Samoa will stand with you, offering resources, clear governance, and steady planning support, as Samoa prepares to take its place at the 2026 Tag World Cup.

Fa‘afetai lava.