History was made after the Cook Islands Under-16 Boys Beach Handball team officially qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, following a determined showing at the 3rd IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia, last week.

The national side which made its debut on the global stage, becoming the first-ever Cook Islands team to compete at an IHF World Championship, placed 15^th out of 16 nations.

“This is a proud moment for our nation,” said Makiroa Mitchell-John, president of Handball Cook Islands and secretary general of the Oceania Continent Handball Federation (OCHF).

“They have made our footprints on the world stage. They are our mapu – our youth – who carried the hopes and dreams of our Pa Metua in a suitcase to Tunisia.

“Who would have thought the Cook Islands would play against the top 16 teams in the world? And even more remarkable, this team is 100 per cent homegrown.”

The journey to Tunisia took the team over 18,000 kilometres, with travel routes spanning from Rarotonga to Hammamet via Sydney, Dubai and Tunis.  

The return trip includes a brief layover in Dubai before arriving back home. Team manager David Pori continued on to Malta, while the rest of the squad heads home with invaluable experience in hand.

The accomplishment is a milestone for Cook Islands handball, a sport that has seen rapid growth since the federation was established in 1998, joining the International Handball Federation (IHF) in 1999.

Participation has soared – entries at the 2024 Cook Islands Games beach handball competition grew by 148 per cent compared to 2023, with regular competitions now held across the Pa Enua.

National coach Peter Tangimetua John emphasised that the main goal in Tunisia was learning and knowledge-sharing.

“Our key objective was to experience and learn as much as possible so we can take that knowledge back to Oceania and share it with our member federations,” John said.

The team included standout players such as the Toru twins, Kuateti (specialist) and Jessie (left wing), representing the nation, as well as the Tepuretu brothers, Brendon and Tangianau, the defensive anchors from Wale Pukapuka.

The campaign to get to Tunisia was mainly self-funded, with each individual covering an estimated US$8000 (NZ$13,339) in travel and participation costs. Fundraising efforts, including a sponsored “Fun Run”, helped support the team’s international dream.

Mitchell-John added: “We have always been navigators, and our presence in Tunisia sets the beacons for future generations. Our participation is about more than competition – it’s about inclusivity, culture-sharing, camaraderie and pride.”

Handball Cook Islands is very appreciative of the support from OCHF president Ricardo Blas, the OCHF executive and Amal Khalifa and Hristo Boskoski from the International Handball Federation who helped make the team’s debut a reality.

“Flying our flag in Tunisia means that our region – Te Moana Nui O Kiva – is seen, acknowledged and respected.”

Although the Olympic qualification is now confirmed, Handball Cook Islands is waiting on approval from the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC).

The 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games will take place in Dakar, Senegal, the first country on the African continent to be awarded the honour of hosting an Olympic sports event. It will be held from October 30 to November 13, 2026.

The Cook Islands Men’s Youth Beach Handball team: 2. Totoo Te Au Arai Tiaore, 3. Kuateti Ratu Peter Jerome Toru (Captain), 4. Jessie O’Deniel Patu Toru (Vice Captain), 5. Sounuu-Okiva Randall Blackmore James Kaveao-Gempton, 7. Tana Miimetua Cordell Raina, 11. Eli Dean Tehaeretua Tepou Topui, 13. Tevaki Abraham Jaywin Tupa Tupa, 18. Tangianau Davida Glassie Buillard Tepuretu, 20. Brendan Aaron Lemuel Trevaughn Lucas Tepuretu, 21. Aiganalua Ailoa Samania (Vice Captain), 22. Eli Tiopu.