The 98th Inter-Collegiate Athletics Sports Competition started yesterday at Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa with a royal twist.
This year’s event is notable marking the first time a prince and princess have taken part in the same sporting event.
The prince led Tupou College in the discus throw for midget boys, smashing his previous record of 15.58m with a new personal best of 21.11m. The princess represented Free Wesleyan Church Middle School in the shot put, recording a 3.93m in the midget girls division.
In a proud family moment, Princess Latufuipeka Tuku’aho awarded special medals of recognition to her nephew and niece, acknowledging their historic participation and achievements.
Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala, the chief guest at the opening ceremony, shared his hopes: “I hope this year’s sports competition will be one that values health, happiness, and the peace of God.”
TongaHealth, with support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), is the main sponsor of the event, aiming to promote physical activity and well-being among Tongan youth.
The competition, organized by the Tonga Secondary School Principal Association’s Sports Committee, focuses on fostering sportsmanship, teamwork, accountability, character building, discipline, and a love of sports. The theme for this year’s competition is “Unity, Peace, Love, and Joy.”
Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, His Excellency Mr. Brek Batley, delivered the key sponsor’s remarks, highlighting the significance of the gathering: “What a powerful sight this is—the largest gathering of young people in Tonga, also the most colourful and the loudest! Assembled not just to compete, but to have fun, test your limits, and inspire each other.”
Batley emphasized the importance of healthy habits to combat non-communicable diseases and reiterated Australia’s commitment to supporting Tonga’s health initiatives.
Seventeen schools from across Tonga, including a team each from the outer islands of Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua, are competing in the four-day event, which concludes this Friday.
In addition to the athletic competitions, TongaHealth is hosting the Zumba Competition 2025. Supporters are encouraged to like, comment, share, and follow their favorite teams to help them win cash prizes, with the video receiving the most likes or reactions securing first place.
