Growing the grassroots and shooting for the stars

Vanuatu is putting the future of sport under the spotlight, with the launch of a new National Sports Policy aimed at creating clearer pathways from grassroots participation and community competitions through to the national and high-performance level. But is a new policy the answer, or would strengthening what already exists be more effective? Co-host Mel Fare takes a closer look.

Meanwhile, Australia is investing $15.6 million into the next generation of Pacific sporting talent. It’s a welcome boost, but what does success actually look like for these future athletes; and how should we measure whether that investment is making a difference? Sam Wykes unpacks it.

We also head to Andorra, where 19-year-old Tokelauan-Samoan Ezekiel Webb is chasing a basketball dream thousands of kilometres from home. Just three years after picking up the sport for the first time, he’s now playing professionally in the eastern Pyrenees between France and Spain.

Plus, we’re joined by Patricia Keamo, Taina Basiyalo and Gabrielle Apelu, bringing you the latest sporting news from Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Samoa.