Oil Search Pacific Games Relay in Tufi, Oro Province

The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay travelled to the world famous Tufi fjord lands.

The Relay was welcomed by four different Tufi sing sing groups upon their arrival at Tufi airport with one group performing a wild dance around the airport.

Oil Search Ambassador Michael Uiari handed the Baton to the elders of the Tufi clans and a procession of the sing sing groups, led by conch shell, wound its way on foot to the Tufi oval for the formal speeches of welcome by the chiefly elder representing all the local clans.

The Baton was then handed to former sporting stars of the region to carry around the oval and to take over to the crowds of people watching.

From there the Baton headed out by boat to the coastal villages of Tumari and Sanei.

At Tumari the Baton was taken along the beach by school children and sing sing dancers, numbering in the hundreds, before heading up the bluff. The Baton was then carried by a young village boy in bilas on a platform carried by his school mates, to a well-rehearsed welcome, where respect was paid to a former village sporting star sprinter PJ Kayo.

The Baton then landed at Sanei where it was taken in by traditional canoes called gusemo, and paddlers, all covered in greenery.

Another colourful sing sing welcome before a Relay was run up the cliff and along the cliff edge before descending to a platform built out over the water where the relay team took the Baton back to prepare for the events of tomorrow.

The Oil Search Pacific Games relay heads out on the Tufi fjords tomorrow.

Photo credit: madNes Photography