Tonga govt finally offers financial support to Rio athletes Featured
Tonga Olympian Pita Taufatofua
2 August, 2016. The Tongan government has approved a late grant of $US25,000 to assist the country's Olympic team in Rio.
The agreement was signed on Friday by the President of Tonga's National Olympic Committee, Lord Tupou, and CEO of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for Sports, 'Ana Bing Fonua.
The Interim CEO and Secretary General of TASANOC, Takitoa Taumoepeau, said it's been made clear that the money was to be used for insurance, outfits and incidentals of team members.
Last month Mr Taumoepeau said an initial request for financial support had been rejected by the government.
Tonga's Olympic athletes received a further financial boost last week when the Kingdom's honorary consul in Sydney donated about $US5500 to the team.
The Kingdom has seven athletes competing in Rio.
Archers Arne Jensen and Karoline Tatafu are the first in action on Friday local time, in the men's and women's individual ranking rounds.
-RNZI
