compete oceania region players registered play sport participation game grew 1970s possible national governing organisation member level organisation game development country participated international events including pacific games world games demonstration success found looking national team ranked world support plays important life women islands clubs club competitions game played schools national festivals like games game reach extends traditional gender boundaries played cook men benefited high visibility players administrators helped develop game internally internationally island nation population people september total residents male female populated islands regions residents female total residents female total residents female residents female total residents female total residents female total residents female history development favourable climate sport played year round sports including cricket tennis boxing golf soccer rugby union european origin developed popular sport participated global stage important international sport competitions participate major force creation participation played important role country modern sporting history 1970s popularity islands grew effort host events way improve facilities 1970s began bidding host international sporting events popularity grew sport popularity partly influence new_zealand players competed new_zealand national team player joined captain new_zealand new_zealand encouraged sport 1980s hosting coaching number athletes reside overseas especially true commentators state living abroad provided athletes access facilities levels higher competition home government identified lack funding sport facilities key reason nation succeeded international competitions believed investing sporting infrastructure enable nation globally competitive recognised olympic sport official recognition olympic sport mean played olympics mean national association government access olympic funding help cover costs facilities travel coaching umpire training grass roots development efforts governing body sport historically sport administered women courts owned local village club exception courts outside clubs affiliated based southern islands group including outer islands sporting event televised local television station sports contested games included games televised funding buy rights provided government live broadcast game happened television silver played september games annual day sport festival fifth version festival held edition games held sports represented games include athletics cricket soccer rugby table tennis tennis touch rugby traditional games games taken seriously sports girls competing compete hope day competing international level government detailed national sport objectives objectives included promoting youth activity order improve quality life encourage young people participate national celebrations develop organize local sport foster sense competition national unity sporting community village national international sphere specifically mentioning acknowledge importance sport terms international prestige strategies help meet objectives strengthen national sporting bodies like association worked players registered grass roots courts island population tennis rivalries villagers island fierce built facilities help win island tennis courts playing soccer tennis number teams affiliated schools colours wears blue white wears green white wears black wears red white junior missionary volunteers uniforms colours played island sports played island include rugby union rugby association football cricket tennis athletics plays important role social life women social activities bars play church games played saturdays winter months april august games played year female players national team treated like minor celebrities traditionally village feast days sport competitions held including rugby dance local league network leagues sports aimed seniors belonging teams offers seniors chance travel able afford high cost transportation locations men unlike countries growth men hampered cultural bias parents boys playing actively discourage continuing despite men national team competed popularity growing men island sport important way villages keeping touch easter sports day organised traditional roles exchanged boys play girls play rugby sporting event boys cross dress wear uniforms traditionally worn women people people important push develop game raise profile national team global stage include captain new_zealand player play new_zealand national team secretary years umpire umpire oceania region attended malaysia olympic games sydney national representative teams competed 1980s president coach national team represented country player world championships international member nation participation international community raised islands visibility globally won competition south pacific games pacific games held national team win tournament beat fiji government provided help team travel commonwealth games scotland world championships held scotland team came sixth world games germany team came fourth oceania tournament team defeated new_zealand fiji come second australia january national team ranked eleventh world world youth cup cook islands team defeated high profile international teams including wales england defeat canada tournament record highest score tournament national team competes international tournament team competed country hosted world youth championship international challenge men appointed head coach development squad goals improve team fitness levels lead world youth championship considerable anxiety facilities world standards prime minister cook islands government deliver new venue reaffirmed support hosting event chinese government offered step loan country help pay costs constructing facility loan controversial organisations felt country priorities planning preparation period lead world youth championship government sought increase size loan facility opposition leader unhappy government handled situation new sporting facilities built pacific mini games competitive history table contains sample results international competitions table contains sample results individual international matches
Netball in the Cook Islands