1997 South Pacific Mini Games

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1997 South Pacific Mini Games
1997 South Pacific Mini Games logo.png
Host city Pago Pago
Country American Samoa
Nations19
Athletes1,798 *
Events11 sports
OpeningAugust 11, 1997 (1997-08-11)
ClosingAugust 22, 1997 (1997-08-22)

The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games were held at Pago Pago in American Samoa from 11 to 22 August 1997. It was the fifth edition of the South Pacific Mini Games. [1] It was much larger than previous editions, with an almost doubling of the number of medals awarded compared to the 1993 South Pacific Mini Games. The impressive performances by Nauru in weightlifting continued in Pago Pago, with the tiny nation finishing on top of the unofficial medal table after winning 33 gold. [2]

Contents

The 1997 Games were criticized for poor preparation by local and international journalists, [3] with Matai Akauo in the Pacific Islands Monthly describing them as "the most disoganised ever in the history of the Pacific Islands Council". [4] Without other means transportation, some athletes had to walk to their venues. [5] However, the games went ahead and the events were able to be completed. [6]

Participating countries

Nineteen Pacific nations participated in the Games: [1] *


Note: A number in parentheses indicate the size of a country's team.

Sports

The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games hosted eleven sports: [7]


Note: A number in parentheses indicates how many medal events were contested in that sport.

Final medal table

Nauru topped the medal table due to gold medals won in weightlifting. Fiji won the most overall medals: [1]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru  (NRU)33101255
2Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji  (FIJ)31312890
3Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa  (ASA)2023750
4Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea  (PNG)18231758
5Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa  (SAM)1491336
6Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg  New Caledonia  (NCL)108422
7Flag of France.svg  French Polynesia  (TAH)79824
8Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga  (TON)44917
9Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands  (SOL)261119
10Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu  (VAN)24410
11Flag of Guam.svg  Guam  (GUM)2226
12Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands  (COK)1348
13Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Micronesia  (FSM)0303
14Flag of Norfolk Island.svg  Norfolk Island  (NFK)0101
15Flag of Niue.svg  Niue  (NIU)0000
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands  (MNP)0000
Flag of Palau.svg  Palau  (PLW)0000
Flag of France.svg  Wallis and Futuna  (WLF)0000
Totals (18 entries)144136119399

See also

Notes

^* The official site provided web pages for each country with the number of athletes in each team:

^a Basketball was included in the 1997 Mini Games in lieu of the FIBA Oceania Tournament. [8]

^b Golf: Adi Sai won bronze as a member of the Fijian women's team at the 1979, 1983 and 1987 SPG, and at the 1989, 1993, and 1997 SPMG. [9]

^c Netballers walked to their training venue. [5]

^d Sailing: Dean Hudson was a bronze medalist for American Samoa sailing Hobie 16's at the 1997 South Pacific Mini Games. [10]

^e International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) coach Sue Gozansky coached the Tongan women's and men's teams in preparation for the 1997 Mini Games. [11]

^f The large number of medals awarded for weightlifting (three per weight division) allowed Nauru to top the gold medal count. [2] [12]

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References

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  3. Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44, Col. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44, Col. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. "South Pacific Mini Games end: final report". Pacific Islands Report. 22 August 1997. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  7. "Sports Events". 1997 South Pacific Mini Games. 1997. Archived from the original on 2 February 1999. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. "FIBA Oceania Events". Sporting Pulse. 2005. p. 7, South Pacific Mini Games American Samoa. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  9. "Golf in Fiji will farewell Adi Sai". National Golf Association of Fiji. 9 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. "Membership biography: Dean Hudson (Chair)". National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  11. "Sue Gozansky". USA Volleyball. 2015. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
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Sources