Home Affairs Minister backs inclusive sport as Solomon Islands Para athlete joins GAPS Training Camp in Scotland
The Honourable Minister for Home Affairs, Reverend Manasseh Maelanga, visited the Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain (GAPS) Training Camp at the University of the West of Scotland on 21 July 2026, reaffirming Solomon Islands commitment to inclusive sport, athlete development and creating opportunities for Para athletes.
The Minister’s delegation joined Commonwealth Sports Ministers and Heads of Delegation in visiting the GAPS Training Camp, which is part of Commonwealth Sport’s commitment to building peaceful, sustainable and inclusive communities through sport.
The GAPS programme was developed by Griffith University and Commonwealth Sport ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and has since become a regular programme delivered at each Commonwealth Games, including Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2026.
The programme is an inclusion initiative designed to remove participation barriers for Para athletes and coaches from emerging and developing nations. It focuses on three key areas: Inclusion, by helping athletes with disabilities access high-performance sport; Development, by training and supporting coaches and administrators; and Pathways, by strengthening sports systems and promoting diversity within major sporting events.
Through GAPS, athletes and coaches benefit from high-performance training camps, education opportunities and mentorship support. Previous camps have been held in the Gold Coast, Australia, South Africa and now Scotland, providing access to elite training environments, nutrition and recovery resources, while supporting athletes to become leaders and role models within their communities.
During the visit, the Minister observed training activities and a simulated Para Athletics competition before attending a panel discussion titled “Enabling Sport: Championing Diplomacy – Inclusive Panel on Gender and Para Sport,” which highlighted the importance of creating more inclusive opportunities across sport.
Representing Solomon Islands at the GAPS Training Camp was Para Powerlifter Moffat Tolomae, accompanied by his coach Leslie Ata.
Mr Tolomae previously attended a GAPS Training Camp in September 2025, where the GAPS Athlete Voice Initiative was launched. The initiative consists of a series of bespoke and interactive athlete workshops designed to empower athletes with disabilities to discover their voice, share their stories and create positive change within their communities.
Through the Athlete Voice Grant, funded initially by Levy’s AUD $15,000 donation to the Commonwealth Sport Foundation’s Athlete Fund, Para athletes are provided with small grants of up to GBP £1,000 to bring their ideas to life. Each grant recipient is also paired with a mentor to provide guidance and encouragement throughout their project journey.
The grants support initiatives such as community “come and try” days, equipment to make sport more inclusive, and storytelling projects including short films and podcasts aimed at changing perceptions of disability and sport.
Mr Tolomae was one of five recipients selected from 19 for his Athlete Voice Grant project, “MT Art Class”. The initiative aims to bring together students with and without disabilities through art, creativity and storytelling to foster inclusion, resilience and a stronger sense of belonging.
Through the project, Mr Tolomae will be supported by an experienced mentor who will provide guidance in planning, delivery, storytelling and measuring the impact of his work.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) acknowledges Commonwealth Sport and its partners for their continued investment in inclusive sport and athlete development, providing valuable opportunities for athletes with disabilities to compete, lead and inspire both on and off the sporting stage. The Ministry also encourages others in similar positions like Mr Moffet to come out and join sporting activities as there is much more out there and that you can also be heard.
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