Host city | Suva |
---|---|
Country | Fiji |
Nations | 22 |
Athletes | ~5,000 |
Events | 32 sports |
Opening | June 28, 2003 |
Closing | July 12, 2003 |
Opened by | Josefa Iloilo |
Main venue | National Stadium |
The 12th South Pacific Games (Fijian : 12 ni Qito ena Ceva ni Pasifika), also known as Suva 2003, were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003. [1]
The Games were the 12th South Pacific Games to be held since the event's inception and were the 40th anniversary of their beginnings in 1963. It was also the third time in the event's history that they had been hosted in Suva. For the first time, the Games included both traditional multi-sport event disciplines such as athletics and swimming together with region-specific and smaller events such as outrigger canoeing, surfing and lawn bowls. Almost 5,000 athletes participated in the Games. [2]
Fijian government funding aided by a $16 million aid package from the People's Republic of China [3] saw the construction of a new gymnasium and indoor sports center, swimming pool and stadium, field hockey pitch and stands as well as the upgrading of existing facilities for other sports.
A strong corporate sponsorship package (including some 20 corporate sponsors), [3] a first for the games, enabled the organizers to expand the scope of the event. A colorful media and publicity campaign - including the Games' mascot, a blue lizard named Tau (meaning "friend" in Fijian) - generated interest and enthusiasm amongst the Fijian public. Schools and youth groups were involved in interactive programs such as the adopt-a-country program. [4]
The 2003 SPG were the biggest Games to date. [5] There were some 300 medal ceremonies with over 860 presentations and 2,300 individual medals. [6]
The following sports were competed: [7]
Hosts Fiji won the first gold medals of the games in women's archery and went on to top the athletics medal count to add to their best-ever medal haul at the SPG. Guam retained its place in baseball winning their second SPG gold medal. The cricket final saw Papua New Guinea overcome Fiji by a single run for the gold medal.
Fijian athletics dominated the athletics events winning a total of 19 gold medals. Makelesi Bulikiombo, the Fijian flag-bearer in the opening ceremony, won 5 gold medals and broke 4 games records. Fiji also took gold, silver and bronze in each of the men's and women's 100m and 200m and both gold and silver in the 400m.
The football competition was one of the sports to be held in venues other than Suva. Fiji won the men's final beating New Caledonia while Papua New Guinea took the first-ever women's football gold medal in a round robin format.
Continuing their domination at the games, Fiji won a further gold in the first-ever women's field hockey competition at the SPG.
The Pacific region-specific sports of outrigger canoeing were contested between Tahiti and New Caledonia and Tonga and Tahiti surfed to gold at the Tavarua breaks.
New Caledonia topped the medal count. [9]
* Host nation (Fiji)
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | New Caledonia (NCL) | 93 | 73 | 74 | 240 |
2 | Fiji (FIJ)* | 65 | 59 | 53 | 177 |
3 | French Polynesia (TAH) | 55 | 28 | 40 | 123 |
4 | Papua New Guinea (PNG) | 33 | 26 | 17 | 76 |
5 | Nauru (NRU) | 24 | 20 | 2 | 46 |
6 | Samoa (SAM) | 18 | 17 | 20 | 55 |
7 | Tonga (TON) | 6 | 9 | 5 | 20 |
8 | Guam (GUM) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
9 | Micronesia (FSM) | 3 | 5 | 3 | 11 |
10 | Vanuatu (VAN) | 2 | 9 | 8 | 19 |
11 | Kiribati (KIR) | 2 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
12 | Cook Islands (COK) | 1 | 6 | 11 | 18 |
13 | Solomon Islands (SOL) | 1 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
14 | Wallis and Futuna (WLF) | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
15 | Norfolk Island (NFK) | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
16 | American Samoa (ASA) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
17 | Palau (PLW) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
18 | Northern Mariana Islands (MNP) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
19 | Tokelau (TKL) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
20 | Niue (NIU) | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
21 | Marshall Islands (MHL) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tuvalu (TUV) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Totals (22 entries) | 309 | 278 | 274 | 861 |
The 13th South Pacific Games, also known as Apia 2007, were held from 25 August to 8 September 2007 in Apia, Samoa. The Games were the thirteenth to be held since the inception of the South Pacific Games in 1963, and included traditional multi-sport event disciplines, such as athletics and swimming, alongside region-specific and smaller events such as outrigger canoeing, surfing and lawn bowls.
The 14th Pacific Games, also known as NC 2011 or Nouméa 2011, took place in Nouméa, New Caledonia, from August 27 to September 10, 2011. Nouméa was the 14th host of the Pacific Games. Upon closure of the registration for entries, "some 4,300 athletes" had registered from the twenty-two competing nations, although it was expected that not all would attend.
Swimming at the 2003 South Pacific Games took place from 30 June to 7 July in Suva, the capital of Fiji.
The swimming competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa was held:
The VII South Pacific Mini Games were held July 25-August 4, 2005 in Palau.
The 1st South Pacific Games, also known as Suva 1963, held from 29 August to 9 September 1963 in Suva, Fiji, was the first edition of the South Pacific Games. The multisport games were established to engender bonds of friendship amongst peoples in the Pacific, after an idea originated by Dr A.H. Sahu Khan was adopted by the South Pacific Commission. At a meeting of nine Territories, held in Nouméa during March 1961, Fiji was awarded the honour of hosting the first Games.
The 3rd South Pacific Games, also known as Port Moresby 1969, held on 13–23 August 1969 in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, was the third edition of the South Pacific Games. A total of 1,150 athletes participated in the games.
Boxing at the Pacific Games has been contested since 1963 when it was included as one of ten sports at the First South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji. There are presently ten weight classes for the men's competition at the Pacific Games, known as the South Pacific Games prior to 2011, in accordance with the (amateur) International Boxing Association (AIBA) classifications.
The 4th South Pacific Games, also known as Papeete 1971, held in Papeete, Tahiti from 25 August to 5 September 1971, was the fourth edition of the South Pacific Games.
Rugby sevens at the 2003 Pacific Games was played as a tournament for 11 men's teams from 3–5 July 2003 at Suva in Fiji. The Fijian team won the final, defeating Cook Islands by 43–10 to claim the gold medal.
The 11th South Pacific Games, also known as Guam 1999, held in Santa Rita and Hagåtña, Guam from 29 May to 12 June 1999, was the eleventh edition of the South Pacific Games.
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. 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.
The 10th South Pacific Games, also known as Papeete 1995, held in Papeete, French Polynesia from 25 August to 5 September 1995, was the tenth edition of the South Pacific Games.
The 8th South Pacific Games, also known as Nouméa 1987, held on 8–20 December 1987 in Nouméa, New Caledonia, was the eighth edition of the South Pacific Games. Political events of the time affected the Games in 1987 and the number of competitors were down. Fiji had two military coups in 1987, and within New Caledonia itself, the Games became a focus of protest in the Kanak independence struggle. The French territories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia had the largest teams and dominated the medal count, with Papua New Guinea finishing third ahead of a depleted Fijian team.
The 6th South Pacific Games, also known as Suva 1979, held in Suva, Fiji from 28 August to 8 September 1979, was the sixth edition of the South Pacific Games.
Netball at the Pacific Games has been an optional Pacific Games sport since 1963. Fiji have been the tournament's most successful team, winning seven gold medals. Cook Islands have won four gold medals. To date, only the Cook Islands and Fiji have won netball gold at the Pacific Games.
Tennis at the Pacific Games has been contested since 1963 when it was included as one of ten sports at the First South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji.
Swimming at the 1999 South Pacific Games took place in Agana, the capital of Guam, at the Southern High School Pool between 30 May and 5 June 1999. It was the eleventh edition of the South Pacific Games. Men's and women's open water events of 5 kilometres were introduced in 1999, with swimmers from American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Northern Marianas, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tahiti competing.
Archery at the Pacific Games was first contested at the 1971 games at Papeete. Archery was made a core sport in 2021, and is thus required to be included at every subsequent edition of the Pacific Games. It has also been included in the Pacific Mini Games, firstly at Norfolk Island in 2001 and then Port Vila in 2017.
Triathlon at the Pacific Games was first contested at the 1995 games at Papeete. It has also been included in the Pacific Mini Games, firstly at Norfolk Island in 2001.
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