The Minister of Sports Ngamau Munokoa had not meant to be the first speaker at an inter-government conference on anti-doping in the Kingdom of Jordan. Nevertheless she started the ball rolling by focusing on youth.
In response to the opening remarks of the chairman, the minister described how she had five grandchildren and wanted each of them to know and enjoy drug-free sport.
The personal expressions struck a positive chord, and the World Anti-Doping Agency education programme development director offered to send a series of popular sports story books for children that could be used in Cook Islands primary schools.
During country presentations, the minister delivered a paper that was prepared with the help of local sports administrators George Paniani, Tony Hole and Trevor Pitt from the Prime Minister's support office. In it she outlined a programme for dope testing during the World Youth Netball Championships in August and the Mini Pacific Games in September. Drug-Free New Zealand and the Oceania Anti-Doping Organisation would train local doping control officers and chaperones for the two events.
In sowing seeds of future co-operation and partnerships, she agreed that there was no reason why "doping officers from the Cook Islands and Oceania could not receive training in Asia or experience testing for doping in Asian sports tournaments".
The minister said that partnership and co-operation was important in fighting against doping in sports. Tapping into technical assistance, training, and new resources could help each country add value to their own efforts.