Tuvalu Sports Ground Explained

Stadium Name:Tuvalu Sports Ground
Location:Funafuti, Tuvalu
Opened:2004
Surface:Grass
Tenants:FC Manu Laeva
FC Nanumaga
FC Niutao
FC Tofaga
Lakena United
Nauti FC
Vaoloa
Tamanuku
Tuvalu national football team
Seating Capacity:1,500

Tuvalu Sports Ground is a multi-use stadium in Funafuti, Tuvalu.[1] It is currently used mostly for football and rugby matches. The stadium holds 1,500 people. It is the only stadium in Tuvalu, and therefore all football tournaments are played at the stadium: A-Division; Independence Cup; NBT Cup; Tuvalu Games and also the Christmas Cup. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division, with the national team training at the Tuvalu Sports Ground.

The first large scale system for renewable energy in Tuvalu is a 40 kW solar panel installation on the roof of the Tuvalu Sports Ground stands.[2] [3] This grid-connected 40 kW solar system was established in 2008 by the E8 and Japan Government through Kansai Electric Company (Japan) and contributes 1% of electricity production on Funafuti.[4] Future plans include expanding this plant to 60 kW.

Stadium info

The islands of Tuvalu are narrow atolls composed of coral, so a football field could only be located at the broadest part of the main island of Funafuti.

The football field on Tuvalu is built on a coral base, with river clay shipped in from Fiji to create a surface on which grass has grown. This improved the football field's condition, although the surface remains hard and is not uniformly flat.

The Tuvalu Islands Football Association has wanted since 1987 to be a member of FIFA.[5] However, the lack of football and ancillary facilities in Tuvalu is a major obstacle for obtaining FIFA membership, because Tuvalu does not have any training grounds or hotels for visiting teams and supporters.[6] [7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tuvalu - Stadiums. Prepared and maintained by Carlos Santos for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 9 December 2021. 29 October 2023.
  2. Web site: Collins . Terry . Tuvalu hopes solar project inspires climate talks; nation sets goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2020 . Eurek Alert! . 19 July 2009. 10 January 2014.
  3. Web site: Drowning island pins hopes on clean energy. CNN EcoSolutions. 21 July 2009. 10 January 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120410062351/http://articles.cnn.com/2009-07-21/tech/tuvalu.cleanenergy_1_tuvalu-solar-power-clean-energy?_s=PM:TECH. 10 April 2012.
  4. Web site: Andrew McIntyre . Brian Bell . Solofa Uota . amp . Government of Tuvalu . "Fakafoou – To Make New": Tuvalu Infrastructure Strategy and Investment Plan . February 2012 . 10 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202126/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TUV_2012_Infrastructure_Plan.pdf . 4 March 2016 .
  5. Web site: Tuvalu eye place in football family. https://web.archive.org/web/20120718061914/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/homefifa/news/newsid=886994/. dead. July 18, 2012. FIFA . September 22, 2008
  6. Web site: Craig . Frew . Tuvalu still dreams of joining Fifa's world football family. 9 December 2013. BBC Scotland . 10 December 2013.
  7. Web site: No sports ground, no hotels so no to FIFA for Tuvalu – OFC. 18 December 2013. Radio Australia. 18 December 2013.
  8. Web site: OFC hits back at Tuvalu over FIFA bid. 18 December 2013. Australia Network News. 19 December 2013.