Samoa's football teams are among a large group of athletes to have travelled to China to prepare for the Pacific Games ©Football Federation Samoa

Samoa’s national football teams are among a large group of athletes who have travelled to China to prepare for the Pacific Games.

According to Football Oceania, a two-month training camp was organised by the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (SASNOC), to help the men’s and women’s teams prepare for the multi-sport event Samoa is set to host in July.

The trip has reportedly been made possible thanks to a project called the China Sports Initiative and will see 209 athletes and coaches from several sports travel to China.

The Samoan team has travelled to China as many of their own facilities are closed for renovations ©Football Federation Samoa
The Samoan team has travelled to China as many of their own facilities are closed for renovations ©Football Federation Samoa

“We can’t understate the importance of that [trip] given that we don’t have the venues to train on,” Team Samoa chef de mission Nynette Sass told the Samoa Observer.

Many of the venues set to host action in July are currently closed for renovation works.

SASNOC’s chief executive Tuala Matthew Vaea said using China’s facilities would be helpful.

“That is one of the benefits of this initiative, to be able to mobilise 10 sports to the southern region of China and to have access to high-performance facilities,” he reportedly said.

The Pacific Games will take place from July 7 to 20.