Faith Fuels Pacific Games Athletes‘ Preparation and Performance

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While almost 5000 athletes from 24 countries are competing in this month’s Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, more than 120 of them are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The games began on 19 November, and will conclude this coming Saturday, 2 December 2023.

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For Teraimatuatini Bopp, the gold medal winner in Judo as a half-middleweight (57-63 kg) from Tahiti, faith is a central part of her life and drives her efforts to do her best. She was particularly thankful for the support of her mother during the years she trained and prepared for the games. But she passed away in 2020.

“In 2019, I won a bronze medal at the Pacific games and when I came back home, I was welcomed by my mom,” she said.  “But in 2020, when I came home from studying in France, she wasn't there to welcome me at the airport, because she passed away."

“So, this medal is for her,” Bopp said.

Another Church member, Marques Whippy, of the gold-medal winning Fiji men’s basketball team, honoured God and his family after participating in a very hard-fought 51-47 over previously undefeated Guam.

"We had so much faith that God would provide, for with God nothing is impossible," Whippy said. 

"We love the people of [the Solomon Islands], who have worked so hard to put this tournament on for us," he continued. "We need to share the love we all feel for one another here.

"This is the way the world should be."

Local leaders and members of the Church are delighted to welcome visiting members and friends of the Church visiting the Solomon Islands during the Games.

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