2003 South Pacific Games

Last updated
XII South Pacific Games
2003 South Pacific Games logo.jpg
Official logo of the Games
Host city Suva
CountryFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
Nations22
Athletes~5,000
Events32 sports
OpeningJune 28, 2003 (2003-06-28)
ClosingJuly 12, 2003 (2003-07-12)
Opened by Josefa Iloilo
Main venue National Stadium

The 2003 South Pacific Games were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003. [1] They are also known as the XII South Pacific Games.

Contents

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]

Organisation

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]

Sports

The following sports were competed: [7]


Note: Full results for all sports have been published on the 2003 SPG official website Archived 2013-05-23 at the Wayback Machine . [8]

Results

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.

Medal table

New Caledonia topped the medal count. [9]

  *   Host nation (Fiji)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flags of New Caledonia.svg  New Caledonia  (NCL)937374240
2Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji  (FIJ)*655953177
3Flag of French Polynesia.svg  French Polynesia  (TAH)552840123
4Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea  (PNG)33261776
5Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru  (NRU)2420246
6Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa  (SAM)18172055
7Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga  (TON)69520
8Flag of Guam.svg  Guam  (GUM)66618
9Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Micronesia  (FSM)35311
10Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu  (VAN)29819
11Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati  (KIR)22812
12Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands  (COK)161118
13Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands  (SOL)15814
14Flag of France.svg  Wallis and Futuna  (WLF)0459
15Flag of Norfolk Island.svg  Norfolk Island  (NFK)0347
16Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa  (ASA)0314
17Flag of Palau.svg  Palau  (PLW)0134
18Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands  (MNP)0112
19Flag of Tokelau.svg  Tokelau  (TKL)0101
20Flag of Niue.svg  Niue  (NIU)0055
21Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands  (MHL)0000
Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu  (TUV)0000
Totals (22 entries)309278274861

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 South Pacific Games</span> 13th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 2007 South Pacific Games were held in Apia, Samoa, from 25 August to 8 September 2007. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Pacific Games</span> 14th edition of the Pacific Games

The 2011 Pacific Games 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:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 South Pacific Mini Games</span>

The VII South Pacific Mini Games were held July 25-August 4, 2005 in Palau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1963 South Pacific Games</span> 1st edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1963 South Pacific Games, held from 29 August to 9 September 1963 at Suva in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1969 South Pacific Games</span> 3rd edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1969 South Pacific Games, held from 13–23 August 1969 at 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 South Pacific Games</span> 2nd edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1966 South Pacific Games, held at Nouméa in New Caledonia from 8–18 December 1966, was the second edition of the South Pacific Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 South Pacific Games</span> 4th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1971 South Pacific Games, held at Papeete in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 South Pacific Games</span> 11th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1999 South Pacific Games, held in Guam from 29 May to 12 June 1999, was the eleventh edition of the South Pacific Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 South Pacific Mini Games</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 South Pacific Games</span> 10th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1995 South Pacific Games, held at Papeete in French Polynesia from 25 August to 5 September 1995, was the tenth edition of the South Pacific Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 South Pacific Games</span> 8th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1987 South Pacific Games, held from 8–20 December 1987 at Nouméa in 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 South Pacific Games</span> 6th edition of the South Pacific Games

The 1979 South Pacific Games, held at Suva in Fiji from 28 August to 8 September 1979, was the sixth edition of the South 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.

References

  1. "Final Sports Program". SPG 2003. Archived from the original on 20 August 2004.
  2. "South Pacific Games under way in Fiji". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 June 2003. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "PataraPacific.com". Archived from the original on 2012-08-04. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  4. "OceaniaSport.info". Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-08-29.
  5. Prasad, Shoma. "Rousing start to 12th South Pacific Games". Wansolwara Online. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
  6. "List of Medal Winners – 2003 South Pacific Games". Sporting Pulse. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  7. SPG Medal Tally 2003.
  8. "Results and Sports News". Sports Pulse. Pacific Games Council. 2003. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  9. SPG Results 2003, p. 1.

Sources