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CI Times Weekly | Current Issue 439|23 March 2012

Team Cook Islands on marketing mission
Team Cook Islands launched their official uniform to the London Olympics on Thursday evening at a function hosted by Prime Minister Hon Henry Puna at the Club Raro hotel. The formal wear was designed by TAV, while the sporting gear including athlete’s bag on wheels was designed by Turtles.
This year, CISNOC approached Cook Islands Tourism Corporation to assist with the sponsorship of the team. So CI Tourism had the formal uniforms made by TAV, and have designed a special traditional costume to be worn by the flag bearer Yachting’s Helema Williams during the opening ceremony. They have also prepared head eis for the ladies and had a specially designed pare rito named “The Sir Geoffrey” for the men.
According to Tourism CEO Carmel Beattie, this is one of the best marketing opportunities we are ever going to have with the whole world focused and participating at the games. Therefore, Tourism staff have prepared marketing bags consisting of little flags and other memorabilia for the representatives who have been asked to market the Cook Islands as a side mission.
Tourism’s public relations team in the United Kingdom are also the PR team for Jamaica, and so our team have also been asked to meet up with top sprinter Usain Bolt and present him with a Cook Islands t-shirt and grab whatever photo opportunity they can. In addition, the PR team has already made a video of our athletes and that has been picked up by CNN and is currently being broadcast. The PR team will also conduct interviews and meets with our athletes while in London.
Tourism has also provided the team with a little spending money.
The Times understands that the Tourism initiative was criticised by its board, however, those few seconds on television when the whole world looks at the Cook Islands walk into the Olympic arena are the most valuable free marketing seconds any country can get.
Our team which mostly consists of women will be farewelled closer to departure at the new Marae o te au Ariki at Atupare.
Sports Minister Hon. Mark Brown and wife Daphne will accompany the team to London.
Prime Minister Puna in his speech recognised the failure of the country to support athletes achieve their full potential stating the case of Sam Pera, and promises that the country will never let down their sports achievers again.
Sponsor Turtles have put their logo on their uniforms and have acquired the rights to do this.
Only the local athletes Patrick Tuara, Patricia Taea, Luisa Peters were at the function last night. Other overseas based athletes, Josh Utanga, Ella Nicholas, Helema Williams, Tepaia Payne, and Celeste Brown were represented by their families. The team will be headed by Chef de Mission George George.
The London Olympics will be broadcast on CITV from the 27 July-12 August 2012 - JM

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