BY CHRIS ALEX
ALLAN Drumond Lindsay, a registered medical nurse, played a crucial role in the XVII Pacific Games 2023, ensuring the well-being of athletes from different Pacific nations despite lacking domestic experience at sports events.
He was chosen this year to work as a medical volunteer alongside the doctors and physio therapists to help look after all the athletes’ wellbeing of athletes from the 24 participating countries from the Oceania.
The Australian Team under the SINIS (Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport) provided Allan with an essential two-day training program on levels 1 and 2 as a sports trainer as part of his journey to the Pacific Games. Allan was able to take on a role he had never held before: sports trainer—thanks to this significant accomplishment.
“What an experience! I was honored to have been chosen as a volunteer to work at the Sol2023 Pacific Games in Honiara. As part of the Physio and Medical team, I was assigned to the National Stadium venue in Honiara. I worked with medical professionals from around the Pacific and other countries,” the 29-year-old from Isabel province told RAW SPORTS.
Lindsay was called upon to help and supervise the health of outside teams, such as the PNG team and New Caledonia, primarily at the national stadium. In spite of the initial difficulties, Allen managed to improvise and use resources effectively, guaranteeing the successful completion of every competitions.
The language barrier was one of Lindsay’s biggest obstacles, especially when dealing with athletes from French-colonized nations who did not speak English. Barriers to communication presented challenges, but Allen’s creativity and flexibility shone through as he got past the language barriers.
He reflected on his experiences and said that the athletes’ joys and pains vividly depicted their journey. Allen found the bravery to accept the chance to volunteer and represent the Solomon Islands, his native country, by addressing issues both on and off the field.
Allen expressed his appreciation to SINIS for providing the priceless opportunity and to his team and colleagues for their cooperative efforts. In addition to being a professional success, his time at the Pacific Games was also a life-changing adventure that only those who have experienced the trials and rewards of the Games can truly comprehend.
As he returns from this extraordinary journey, his tale serves as a motivational example of the value of commitment, preparation, and flexibility in the fast-paced field of sports medicine.
