DigiGames

An intiative that has been developed in the Pacific is DigiGames. To date games have taken place in both Samoa and Tonga with plans to bring them to all Digicel Pacific markets in the future. The DigiGames is a DigiCare programme to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and to give them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, have fun and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Needs Athletes and the wider community.

 

Digicel Samoa in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, hosted the first ever Games of its kind in 200x, specifically for children for special needs. The main aim of these Games is to identify and then develop early students who have the potential to represent Samoa and Tonga at international sporting events such as the Special Olympics which will take place in the next four years. Athletes participate in 20 fun sports at varying ability levels and include sitting volley ball, Keep it Up, Goal Ball, Boccia, Bowling and Tennis.

 

“Since launching in Samoa, it has been one of our priorities to give back to our communities equitably. It is clear for all to see that Digicel has done that to all levels of Samoa especially those sectors and members of our communities who are not as fortunate”, says Digicel Country Manager, Pepe Christian Fruean. The key aim was to assist in sending a team to represent Samoa in the Special Olympics in Athens. 

 

This goal was realised in June 2011 when they helped send a team of eight athletes to represent Samoa in the Special Olympics.