Category Archives: Oceania

India will face Uzbekistan in the second round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie in Bengaluru from April 7-9, the All India Tennis Association (AITA) announced on Thursday.

It will be non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathis first tie having taken over from Anand Amritraj. Amritrajs stint with the team, which started in 2013, ended on a winning note after India defeated New Zealand 4-1 in the first round in Pune earlier this month.

There was a fair bit of controversy over the doubles combination in the last tie against New Zealand, with Rohan Bopanna omitted and an injured Saketh Myneni replaced by Vishnu Vardhan in the last hour. India still had it easy against the Kiwis with Ramkumar Ramanathan and Yuki Bhambri winning both their singles rubbers to seal a 4-1 victory.

Read | How Doordarshans Davis Cup coverage left fans guessing

Bengaluru had last hosted the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against Serbia in 2014.

This will be the fifth encounter between India and Uzbekistan in Davis Cup history. Both countries are tied 2-2 having each won their respective home ties.

Read | How Leander Paes Davis Cup dreams got shattered against New Zealand

The last time they had played, India lost 2-3 in the Asia/Oceania Group I semifinal tie played at Namangan, Uzbekistan, in 2012. Prior to that, India had lost in 2007 at the same venue. India has hosted Uzbekistan in Jaipur (2005) and New Delhi (2008) and have won both times.

The winner of the tie will advance to the Davis Cup World Group playoffs, to be held in September.

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Davis Cup 2017: Bengaluru to host India-Uzbekistan Asia-Oceania Group I Rd 2 tie - Hindustan Times

Miami Herald

Oceania cruises adds more Cuba trips from Miami with multiple stops on the island Miami Herald Premium cruise line Oceania Cruises announced Tuesday that it is adding six voyages to its Cuba itinerary for 2017, half of which also include stops in Cienfuegos near south-central Cuba and Santiago de Cuba on the island's southwestern coast. Oceania gets Cuba approval for six more cruisesTravel Weekly Oceania Cruises Reveals Additional Cuba Cruises for 2017TravelPulse Oceania Cruises Reveals Late 2017 Voyages To CubaPR Newswire (press release) Seatrade Cruise News -Cruise Radio (blog) all 7 news articles »

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Oceania cruises adds more Cuba trips from Miami with multiple stops on the island - Miami Herald

In the OFC Under 17 World Cup qualifiers, New Zealand made a stunning start to their defence of the OFC U-17 Championship title on Monday night with an 11-0 goal fest registered against Samoa in Tahiti.

Fellow Group B sides Fiji and Solomon Islands played out a thrilling 1-1 stalemate in the second encounter of the evening.

For the New Zealanders, qualification at the top of their group was always the initial outcome.

It was a strong start for the Kiwis who took just five minutes to register their first goal when Willem Ebbinge chested down an indirect free kick and volleyed it hard into the net.

His brace came just five minutes later when he followed up on an attempted clearance.

It was a much improved performance from the Samoans in the second half however the New Zealand side proved too powerful for the tiring side to overcome.

They held out until the 67th minute where an unmarked Palmer looped his header over the back-peddling Eti Fatu.

Palmer added two more to earn his hat-trick along with another to Spragg to join him. Captain Max Mata and Oliver Whyte also got in on the goalscoring action to take the Kiwis to 11.

A very early goal for Fiji the quickest in the tournament so far at three minutes helped with their confidence, while also putting their opponents Solomon Islands on the back foot.

It was a fast-paced encounter thanks in part to the quick-pass playing style the Solomon Islands adopted, combined with Fijis physicality and decision to use their height to their advantage with long balls.

Steward Toata, and his teammates up front combined well to keep the defence led by captain Mohammed Naizal busy.

Despite Solomon Islands advances they struggled to find the target and had to go into the break with a deficit of one goal.

Solomons came out with renewed energy in the second half throwing everything forward as they sought an equaliser.

They eventually got what they were after in the 51st minute when Elis Mana fired the ball into the net off an odd-angled cross from Steward Toata.

With the score locked at one apiece, the intensity of the match increased once again as both sides chased the three points. The Solomon Islanders had the better chances of the remaining period but couldnt break down the Fiji back line forcing them to take a share of the points.

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U17 Qualifiers Progressing for Oceania Cup - EMTV Online

The CNMIs Robbie Schorr and Carol Lee earned slots on the Pacific Oceania Team that will compete in the 2017 Asia Oceania Pre Qualifying Zone of Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup in New Delhi, India next week.

Schorr will play in the Junior Davis Cup for the first Pacific Oceania Team entered in the annual tournament. Lee, on the other hand, is on her second tour of duty with the Pacific Oceania Team that will be seeing action in the Junior Fed Cup after debuting in the same competition last year.

I am deeply honored to be selected on the team. I am very excited to play and will do my very best in every game, Schorr said in a telephone interview with Saipan Tribune yesterday before he played a scrimmage against former CNMI National Team member Bobby Cruz at the Pacific Islands Club court.

Its a great opportunity to play against the top junior players in Asia, the 14-year-old player added.

Schorr will team up with one player each from Vanuatu and Tahiti and the Pacific Oceania bets will join the representatives of the 15 other participating countries in the Feb. 20-25 tournament. The Top 2 teams in the qualifier will join 12 Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand in the Final Qualifying that will also be held in India next month.

Schorr got a slot on the squad for his impressive showing in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in the last few years and for dominating his age group in the CNMI tournaments and the North Pacific Regional Championships.

The hard work he has put in during the tournaments in Fiji (POJC) in the last four years has been noticed by the people from ITF, which is sponsoring the team to the Junior Davis Cup. I am proud that he has shown a lot of improvement in the last four years and despite his busy schedule playing tennis here and outside Saipan, he has maintained high grades and is keeping up with his school work, said Robbies father, Robert, who also thanked Saipan International School for its understanding and allowing his son to compete in off-island tournaments.

In New Delhi, CNMI Junior National team coach Jeff Race said Schorr should expect a high-level competition from Asian players.

It will be a great experience for him to play against these high-level teams. I am very excited for him. Its nice to put in your resume that you had once played in the Junior Davis Cup, Race said.

As for Lee, Race said its another feather in the formers cap, as she has been competing and doing well in a lot of off-island tournaments since 2015.

When she debuted in the 2016 Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying, which also took place in India, Lee gave Pacific Oceania its lone win against Southeast Asia powerhouse Thailand. The Commonwealth player swept Watsachol Sawatdee in the second singles match, 6-4, 6-4. Lee and company also dueled Australia in the final qualifying and scared then world No. 46 Baijing Lin by winning the first set, 6-2, and giving the Aussie a tough time in the second before losing, 5-7. Lin eventually escaped the upset axe of Lee after prevailing in the deciding set, 6-1.

Lee is currently in Fiji, working out at the ITF/OTF Regional Training Center in Lautoka.

Its an honor to be selected on the team again. Im really eager to compete in New Delhi and represent Pacific Oceania, said Lee, who spent the first two months of the year competing in three ITF Juniors world ranking tournaments in New Zealand.

Lee, as of Feb. 13, is ranked No. 347 in the world and achieved her best ranking at No. 341 last Feb. 6 after making it to the semifinals of the singles event in the 2017 Tecnifibre Tennis Central Championships in Wellington and advancing to the quarterfinals of the singles contest in the NZ ITF Summer Championships 2017 in Auckland.

Lee will leave Fiji for New Delhi today, while Schorr will head out of Saipan tomorrow.

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Schorr, Lee make elite team - Saipan Tribune

National Junior badminton squad at Nadi International Airport. Photo: Fiji Badminton Association

The national badminton junior team flew out of the country on Sunday to participate at the Oceania Junior Championship 2017 in Noumea, New Caledonia.

The seven-member team of Liam Fong, Justin Tang, Chang Ho Kim, Monica Chan, Carmen Loo, Sonali Kumar and Shristi Nadan had been training hard for the last few months in anticipation for a tough competition.

In a press release, the Fiji Badminton Association stated that although most of players are competing internationally for the first time, they are excited of the challenge that lies ahead of them.

Team manager and coach Steven Low said Fiji has not sent a team to compete internationally for a few years now and this is a development squad they are taking to the Under-19 Oceania competition.

We hope that these players will do well and also learn a lot from the tour to be able to keep pushing their standard of play higher and ultimately make the national team, he said.

Association vice-president Dennis Fong said they are currently in a rebuilding phase and this is the first step towards ensuring that they continue to dominate badminton and win gold during the Pacific Games and other meets in the region.

Our goal is to send a team to upcoming international tournaments as well as to the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and raise our level of competition.

We thank all the players, parents and administrators who worked hard to ensure that this tour was possible.

We have also put in place strategic plans for the next few years and we are looking to grow the sport in Fiji, added Fong.

The Oceania Junior Championship brings together teams from New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Guam, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga to compete for regional honours.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj

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Fiji Juniors Take On Oceania's Best - Fiji Sun Online

5 Feb 2017, 12:15 a.m.

There's icy glaciers waiting to cool you down.

If our sweltering summer has you fantasising about snow-capped mountains and icy glaciers, a look at what's on offer in the way of Alaska cruises this year might have a cooling effect.

Alaska's cruising season runs from late April to September and most mainstream cruise lines as well as some luxury and adventure lines send one or more ships there. The biggest operators are Princess Cruises, which has six ships in Alaska in 2017 and Holland America Line, which has seven. Other lines operating mid-size to large ships there are Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Luxury lines sending smaller ships to Alaska, although not for the whole season, include Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Seabourn and Silversea. And if you're after a more off-the-beaten-track experience, check out Lindblad Expeditions and UnCruise Adventures, whose much smaller vessels sail where the big ones can't go. So you'll have plenty of ships to choose from the question is, when is the best time to go?

For a start, the weather varies considerably. The peak months of the season, June to August, are the warmest with long hours of daylight, but they are also the wettest and most crowded it's not unusual for the popular ports along the Inside Passage to have up to six big ships in on the same day. However, summer is the best time for spotting bears.

Fares also vary according to when you go and are generally cheaper in late-April and May and September. For example, a seven-day round-trip Inside Passage cruise from Vancouver on HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam costs $1569 in April, $2109 in June and $1549 in September. The disadvantages of shoulder season cruises are cooler temperatures and in April to May, the possibility of late snowfalls however the Northern Lights are sometimes spotted in September and the autumn colours of the trees and tundra are quite spectacular.

While there is a host of highly attractive cruise-land packages that combine a cruise with rail trips and stays in wilderness lodges in Denali National Park, most Alaska cruise-only itineraries are between seven and 10 days and are one-way or round-trip from Vancouver or Seattle; or one-way between Vancouver or Seattle and Anchorage. These take in the Inside Passage, the magnificent sheltered waterway that's surrounded by steep mountain walls, massive glaciers, dramatic fjords and vast tracts of rainforest. Ships typically call at ports such as Juneau (Alaska's capital), Ketchikan, Haines and Skagway and spend a day cruising in Glacier Bay National Park.

NAME Jeffrey Jack, from St Vincent, living in Belgrade.

POSITION Hotel Manager, Windstar's Wind Spirit.

MY JOB is to make sure Windstar's culture and standards are displayed on every sailing we do. We are all about small-ship cruising, less travelled destinations and laid-back luxury. I am responsible for crew training and I lead the services team, working closely with the captain to provide these services to all our guests by setting the tone and creating a fun working environment in all departments.

A TYPICAL DAY starts about 5.30am with a walk around all areas to check they're ready to receive guests. I meet the chef and dining room manager to make sure all items for the day's menu are in place and whether we need to buy anything locally to add to the menus. The bridge team and I address issues that might affect guests during the day, for example whether we can open the marina platform or not (it depends on wind and sea conditions). Before lunch and dinner I join the chef for tastings and during service I chat with guests and invite those who are interested in star-gazing up to the bridge for an informal Q&A with the officers. And every day I Facetime my children.

FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT There are so many! When I first stepped onboard Wind Spirit I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! But meeting my wife on board Wind Surf is the standout.

FAVOURITE CRUISE PORT In French Polynesia, it's Fakarava, an unspoilt island we visit on our Tuamotu itinerary. Its reef system has been classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve so the diving is incredible. In Europe, I love Istanbul and Ephesus and hope the geopolitics improve so we can sail there again.

INSIDER TIPS If you love being at sea, take a Transatlantic crossing. There are sunrises and sunsets to die for seeing the green flash at sunset is often a highlight.

Take a photo of your luggage in case it gets lost at an airport much easier than trying to describe it to officials.

Revel in the glamour of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix with Latitude 33's new fly/stay/cruise package. The 14-night trip features an all-inclusive cruise on board Silver Spirit from Barcelona to Rome and leaves Australia on May 19. After two nights at Raffles Dubai you fly to Barcelona for a night in the elegant El Palace before boarding Silver Spirit. The ship will be in Cannes for two days during the famous film festival but the highlight is spending the weekend in Monaco for The Grand Prix. Tickets to view the thrilling race are included in the fare. Other ports of call include Ste in France, Ajaccio in Corsica and Portofino and Livorno in Italy. Two nights at the historic Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese in Rome is a suitably grand finale to the trip. See latitude33.travel

Cruise Express' 15-night 'Journey to the Northern Lights' fly/cruise/tour itinerary traces the fjord-studded coastline of Norway north above the Arctic Circle all the way to the Russian border. The cruise tour offers the chance to witness the Aurora Borealis magical swirls of light that illuminate Norway's night sky in winter. The package includes two nights in Oslo with city tours, rail journeys to Voss and Bergen, 'Norway in a Nutshell' Flm Railway and fjord cruise, and a six-night cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes onboard Hurtigruten's 691-passenger ship, MS Kong Harald. At Kirkenes you stay at the SnowHotel, where the rooms are carved from ice, and take a dog sled ride through the forest, before returning to Oslo for a night and flying back to Australia. The tour departs on February 9, 2018; see cruiseexpress.com.au

For the first time, Silversea Cruises is offering Australian travellers complimentary flights to Europe for select voyages in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, departing from April to November 2017. The new program offers passengers a choice of the following flight options aboard an appropriate Emirates or Silversea partner airline flight added to their cruise: an economy class air round-trip from within Australia; an option to upgrade to business class for $4998 a person; or a credit of $1000 a person if the flight options are not used. All-inclusive cruise fares start from $4275, for Silver Spirit's eight-day cruise from Barcelona to Rome departing on November 3. Additional bonuses also apply when you book by February 28; see silversea.com

Take a Lindblad Expeditions voyage in 2018 at 2017 prices when you book by March 31, 2017. A 10-day Galapagos Islands cruise package includes two nights in Guayaquil, flights to the Galapagos, the seven-night cruise and all guided excursions. Fares start from $8700 for departures on select dates between January 1 and December 31, 2018. Phone Adventure World on 1300 295 049, see adventureworld.com

UTracks, a division of World Expeditions, is celebrating its 10th birthdayby offering 10 classic European trips at their original 2007 brochure price. One for cruise fans is France's Loire Valley Bike & Barge trip, which is on sale for $1490 until March 3. Phone 1300 303 368, see utracks.com

UNIWORLD Save $980 a person when you book the seven-night Enchanting Danube river cruise on SS Maria Theresa by February 28, 2017. Fares start at $3919 and include unlimited beverages on board and hosted excursions. The offer is available on select itineraries between Budapest and Passau from April to November 2017. Phone 1300 780 231, see uniworld.com

The story Ocean cruises: Cool down in Alaska with Crystal Cruises, Oceania Cruises and more first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Ocean cruises: Cool down in Alaska with Crystal Cruises, Oceania ... - Blayney Chronicle

10/02/2017

FIBA Family

FIBA Asia & Oceanian Communications & Marketing Workshop participants

BEIRUT - There was a real buzz in Beirut this week as 15 national member federations from Asia came together for a landmark Marketing and Communications Workshop in preparation for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

Following on from a highly-successful European edition of the workshop held in Munich last week, the two-day event organised by FIBA's Regional Office in Asia was the first-ever joint Asia/Oceania marketing workshop as participants from Australia and New Zealand joined their Asian counterparts to pool ideas, experiences and gain some expert insight.

The workshop was an important illustration of FIBA's continued commitment to prepare all of its national member federations all around the world for the New Competition System which comes intoeffect in November.

There was a strong emphasis on all aspects of marketing and communications, with delegates left highly enthused by the experience.

"It's a big chance to spread the game of basketball in Japan," said Mitsuhiro Hirota, the Deputy Secretary General of the Japanese Basketball Federation (JBA). "This workshop helped us in understanding how to show and tell the sponsors about the New Competition System as well the technique and methods in exposing it to the fans and the world."

With active participation at the heart of the workshop, delegates made the most of the opportunities available to gather information and network with each other.

Everyone was provided with the latest information relating to the implementation of the Qualifiers, along with expert analysis on how to package the rights, as well as selling and promoting them by using the tools provided by FIBA.

"It gave us a clear understanding of how we should be able to 'sell' the New Competition System to the sponsors - as well as the technique and tools of exposing our national teams," said Basketball Australia (BA) CEO, Anthony Moore.

The event in Beirut was the second of four global workshops, with further ones scheduled to take place in Africa and the Americas.

FIBA

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Asia and Oceania members get most out of FIBA National Federations Marketing and Communications Workshop in ... - FIBA

SYDNEY -- Two of Oceania's top political leaders have stepped down to spend more time with their families, but there may also be another reason for them to retire in the prime of their lives.

On Jan. 19, Mike Baird,48, announced he was resigning as premier of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state.

"There is a strong personal cost that comes in public life," Baird said, adding that his parents and sister were going through serious health challenges. "I have been in pain, not being able to spend the time that I should" with family members, Baird said in tears.

Baird's retirement came as a shock, as he was considered a promising young politician and a possible future Australian prime minister.

Last December, New Zealand's Prime MinisterJohn Key also announced his retirement, at the age of 55, citing family reasons.He had beenone of the country's mostpopular politicians, known for solid fiscal management, since he took office in 2008. "I've gotnothing left in the tank," Key said.

Local media have speculated that both Baird and Key simply gave up on politics, as neither has been the subject of scandals. Both have signaled their intention to move into the private sector, where it will be easier for them to achieve a positive work-life balance.

Headhunters are said to be after Baird and Key, both of whom implemented successful economic policies capitalizing on the business acumen they accumulated as bankers. State premiers are said to earn money equivalent to $170,000 to $260,000 a year, while Australia's prime minister earns about $380,000. Heads of Australian companies can earn 10 times as much.

Key, known as one of New Zealand's wealthiest men, also said he wants to hand overpower to a newgenerationof politicians. He may have thought it is better to make way for new blood amid the global uncertainty that has followed the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.K.'s decision to leave the European Union.

Upon hearing about Key's announcement, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull sent him a text: "Say itain't so, bro." Amid lackluster policy achievements by Turnbull, the ruling party's approval rating is now 46%, compared with the opposition's 54%.Turnbull may have had mixed feelings about his peers' departures.

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Work-life concerns drive Oceania leaders' departures - Nikkei Asian Review

Oceania Cruises offers an extensive array of American experiences in the Last Frontier of Alaska. Sailing San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, adventurous travellers have 14 departures to choose from between May andSeptember 2017.

Big, bold, and beautiful, Alaska is a captivating land of ancient glaciers, majestic wildlife and an enchanting culture that welcomes visitors with opens arms. The 49th state also offers myriad opportunities for exciting glacial explorations and kayaking tours, along with more leisurely pursuits such as birdwatching or local ale tastings.

We are looking forward to sharing the unique experiences of Alaska with our guests, stated Bob Binder, president & CEO of Oceania Cruises. From the mountains and glaciers to the picturesque frontier towns and amazing wildlife,

theyll also see an uncommon Alaska, a side that you only experience on a small ship with the inimitable style and comfort of Oceania Cruises.

Highlights include an extraordinary journey of discovery on the Aleutian Ballad, the storied crab boat from Discovery Networks Deadliest Catch in Ketchikan.

Or, guests can partake in a personalised fishing expedition where their catch is prepared by a personal chef as the main course of a gourmet lunch, served around a crackling campfire amidst the centuries-old Alaskan rainforest.

Adventures abound in Juneau, where thrill-seekers can go dog-sledding, glacier-trekking on Mendenhall Glacier, or even sea-kayaking through the coastal waterways travelled for centuries by the Aleut Indians. Foodies will enjoy theFlavours of Juneau with a visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company and Chez Alaska Cooking School.

Guests can also go deep-sea sports fishing for salmon in Sitka. Or visit the world-famous Alaska Raptor Centre, one of the largest rehabilitation centres for injured eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls; and witness the magnificence of sea otters,whales, sea lions, porpoises and brown bears on a Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest.

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Oceania Cruises serves up great American adventures in The Great Land - Travel Daily Media (press release) (registration) (blog)

Katy Clarke , kclarke@guampdn.com Published 6:54 p.m. ChT Feb. 9, 2017 | Updated 2 hours ago

ITTF Oceania development coordinator Michael Brown visited Guam to determine whether or not Guam was a viable candidate to host the ITTF Oceania Championship and Guam Para Table Tennis Open.(Photo: Courtesy Richard Kalocsai)

Guam is under consideration to host the 2018 International Table Tennis Federation Oceania Championship and Guam Para Table Tennis Open.

ITTF Oceania development coordinator Michael Brown visited Guam this past week to determine whether or not Guam is a viable fit for the competitions.

Whether or not we feel it is financially viable for Guam to host the 2018 ITTF Oceania Championships and Guam Para Table Tennis Open will be decided by the end of April this year, said Brown. First, Guam needs to send their application to the management committee.

NarciSan Agustin, secretary general of Guam's local table tennis federation, said that Guam would be sending its application in the next few weeks.

Brown, who spent a week here meeting with the local federation and inspecting facilities, has made a few visits to Guam over the last five years. He visited schools and assisted theGuam Table Tennis Federation in developing the sport among the youth. He said he has been impressed with the growth in that time.

But whether or not Guam is selected to host the competitions comes down to finances:Brown estimated that Guam would need to pay $30,000-$50,000 to host the Oceania event, a number he believes is attainable. There would also be a return for the island with Brown estimating $250,000 coming in with the tournaments.

While the two tournaments aren't mutually exclusive, both are in 2018. Hosting the Oceania Championship would help Guam with the funds and equipment needed to host the Para Table Tennis Open.

The Oceania Championship has more sponsorship potential, said Brown. If Guam hosts that event, they will receive tables, flooring, etc. Hosting that event make the para table tennis event easier to host. Thats about $70,000 in equipment. From a financial point of view, it would be better to host both.

Brown said the ITTF Oceania Championship is the longest running table tennis event in the region. If selected, Guam would be the sixth-ever nation to host, and the first onein the northern hemisphere.

Link:

Guam could host Oceania, Para tournaments - Pacific Daily News