This first week of August 1st with only four days to the opening ceremony, Team Palau is excited and looking forward to an exciting opening ceremony on 5th of August and to participate in this games.
So far the Team is settled at the Olympic Village and continuing their practices this week and attending various Team Ceremonies.
[restrict] Our Palau K1 paddler Ms. Marina Toribiong finally joined the Team on early Monday morning from a two week training camp and a 23 and under competition in Minks, Belarus. Marina received a scholarship from the International Canoe Federation to the training camp and compete in Belarus. She reduced her time in the 200m K1 race by 3 seconds and also did her best time in the 500m K1 race. At this Olympic Games, Marina will be competing with top K1 paddlers as the only Oceania paddler in Canoe K1 event from Oceania country, besides Australia and New Zealand.
August 1st – Team Palau had a welcome ceremony to raise Palau flag at the Olympic Village along with The Team Estonia and Team Egypt. Palau Team presented a gift (story board) to the Mayor of the Village, a Brazilian Basketball Player and medalist, Ms. Janeth Arcain.
On August 4th, Palau will join the rest of the Teams from Oceania region at a special Oceania Welcoming Ceremony outside of the Olympic Village at the Oceania House in Urca RIO, a village close to the beach. On August 5th our Team Palau will join all the teams at the Opening Ceremony of the Games starting at 8pm RIO Time, which will be Palau 8am August 6th.
During this first week, the team chef de mission Ms. Frida Delmau had been attending meetings at 730am to ensure that our Team is settled and every athlete need is met at the village and their schedule on track. Our NOC staff Kenny Reklai is joining the Oceania Team in coordinating and setting up the Oceania House for the ceremony on the 4th and assisting with our Team daily needs; while Jayvan Emesiochel, Palau Press Attaché’ is involved with the Oceania press in preparation for the various ceremonies and the events.
Our Team Palau Athletes are all in good health and spirit. They continue to practice at their respective venues arrangements in the village and outside of the village. They are still adjusting to the time difference, the food, and the excitement of being neighbors to world top athletes, and enjoying their experiences. The athletes are also treated greatly at the village with many amenities provided for them by key sponsors of the games. Again, our Team Palau will compete in Swimming on August 11th is the 50m freestyle swim for Shawn Dingilius, August 12th is the 50m freestyle swim for Dilrngulbai “UB” Misech, August 13th is 100m Sprint Preliminary for our Runner Rodman Teltull, August 15 and 17 will be the event dates for Marina Toribiong in the water on the K1 Canoe Races, and lastly Skilang Florian Temengil will have his event on the 19th of August.[/restrict]