The conference is bringing close to 800 youths from sport and youth organisations, government and international institutions from around the Pacific region together in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Rokotuinakasa says the prospect of being involved in a conference like this is exciting and he can’t wait for it to get underway tomorrow.
“Sport can make a difference in people’s lives,” Rokotuiakasa says.
“Before we arrived, the Vanuatu delegation was working with the national Health Department identifying how Vanuatu is made up – the different islands, the geography, the language.
“We also wanted to know what drives our youth, as well as try to identify the key social issues they face at home.”
The Vanuatu businessman is a long-time volunteer in the sports world, working mostly in rugby league.
He says a major problem is the heavy use of marijuana by the nation’s youth.
“I tried something on five young people playing rugby league in my team. They were heavy smokers of marijuana and so we pulled them off the field – and now they’re clean.
“I told them it wasn’t just because of what I did to them. As a good sportsman you don’t look at the outside picture first – you look at who is beside you – your wife or your children. They got the picture and it worked.”
Rokotuiakasa’s method may not be one that works universally, but it worked for him, now he wants to refine and develop it, which is why he is here in Noumea.
“What I’m really interested in learning more about is around health, youth and sport development. I’ve come here to learn the whole development of sports structure so it can be taken home and bring it to reality.”
While his background is in rugby league, Rokotuiakasa says it will not be the only sport that will benefit from his expertise on his return to Vanuatu.
“When you say sports, sports is everything. People ask me why I say that and it’s because sport is not just one sport – the name sport is everything.
“You can join youth in any sports discipline and when we put our minds together – we all work together.”

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