THE president of the Cook Islands Rugby League has visited Bristol ahead of the squad's trip to the city for the Rugby League World Cup next year.
Charles Carlson visited the Memorial Stadium, where the Cook Islands will play their opening match of the tournament against the USA.
He also visited the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGSC) – formerly Filton College – where the squad will train and the Bristol Marriott in the city centre, where they will stay for the 23 days they are in Bristol in October and November, 2013.
Earlier in the week delegates from each of the 14 countries taking part visited the House of Commons, before meeting each other properly for the first time in Manchester for the International Rugby League Federation's annual general meeting.
Mr Carlson said he was highly impressed by what he had seen in Bristol and was delighted the Cook Islands squad will be based in the city.
He said: "We came to Bristol to get a feel for the city and have a look at the facilities, and to make sure everything is in place for out players and the squad once they get here.
"I didn't know anything about Bristol, and when I heard we would be based here the first thing I did was have a look on the internet to find out where it was.
"It has been important that we saw the training facilities. We weren't quite sure coming down to Bristol what it was going to offer, but I am really pleased we are based here.
"The academy at the college is great.
"They have got everything there, facilities we don't have back home, and it is more than we could have asked for."
The Cook Islands will play the USA in their first match at the Memorial Stadium – a ground which with a capacity of 12,000 could hold more than half the population of the entire Cook Islands.
Mr Carlson said: "We are a pretty small island back home and don't have a stadium like this – this is quite fantastic.
"If we can fill it to capacity there will be a great atmosphere. There is a lot of history in this stadium and we are very pleased to be playing here."
Mr Carlson said that before the World Cup starts and in between matches the squad will be keen to embrace Bristol's culture – and to bring a little bit of the islands to the city.
He said: "Our Cook Islands identity is very important to us and we want to share that with the people of Bristol.
"We want to get that across to the city. We will be doing community events and programmes in schools, and we are really keen to share our culture with Bristol and to learn about the city.
"We just want to give something back to the city and to say thank you for taking us in as hosts for the World Cup."
Joe Catcheside, from Rugby League South West, said the trip made the World Cup more tangible.
He said: "It is great to see different nations and cultures united by the sport of rugby league.
"We are delighted the Cook Islanders are coming to Bristol and we are determined to make it a home-from-home for them.
"It will be lovely to see the arts and crafts and cultural projects they bring into the UK, and it would be great if we can build a reciprocal cultural relationship between Bristol and the Cook Islands that can last beyond the World Cup."
Deputy council leader Simon Cook, executive member for sport, said: "It is great to have a big match in the city, and therefore be identified as part of the world tournament is great.
"But if we can get a good spin off in terms of getting people to play games and learn about different cultures, that would be great.
"International sport is a big family and a community, and it helps people understand one another and where they come from.
"It is these things that help keep the peace in the world and help promote understanding."
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