KOROR, Palau — The Trash Titans claimed victory in the Palau Qualifier of the NIPPON FOUNDATION SPOGOMI World Cup 2025, held Sunday at Ernguul Park, where 84 participants collected a total of 161 pounds of trash as part of a nationwide cleanup competition.
The winning team—Cindy Fitzpatrick, Ray D’Diich Isao, and Candi Ikesakes—will represent Palau in the international SPOGOMI World Cup Final this October in Tokyo. The trio stood out for their teamwork and thorough approach to collecting and sorting trash during the event, which merges sport with environmental action.
Led by JICA volunteer Yusuke Tsuchikawa, the competition drew 28 teams from across the country, with participants traveling from as far north as Ngaraard and as far south as Angaur. The event promoted environmental awareness through the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—while encouraging waste separation practices.
Dignitaries in attendance included Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Japan’s Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Shunsuke Ono, and JICA Palau Chief Representative Tsunenori Aoki, highlighting broad institutional support for community-led environmental initiatives.
Hosted by local cleanup group Gomizu Palau (Clean Peace Palau), the event was supported by the Division of Solid Waste Management, Koror State Government, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Education, the Palau Visitors Authority, the Embassy of Japan, JICA Palau, JMAS, and Peace Winds Palau.
Organizers said the next SPOGOMI World Cup Palau Qualifier is scheduled for 2027.