2023 Pacific Games

Last updated

XVII Pacific Games
2023 Pacific Games logo.png
Official logo of the Games
Host city Honiara
Country Solomon Islands
MottoChallenge, Celebrate, Unite
Nations24
Events342 in 24 sports
Opening19 November 2023
Closing2 December 2023
Opened by Manasseh Sogavare
Athlete's Oath Marx Boussougou
Lara Grangeon
Website sol2023.com.sb
  Apia 2019
Pirae 2027  

The 2023 Pacific Games, officially known as the XVII Pacific Games and commonly known as Sol 2023 or Honiara 2023, was a continental multi-sport event for Oceania countries and territories held in Honiara, Solomon Islands between 19 November and 2 December 2023. [1] This was the first time that the Solomon Islands have hosted the Pacific Games.

Contents

The Games were originally scheduled for 16–29 July 2023. However, in July 2021, the Games organizers requested a date change due to delays in preparation for the games caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Solomon Islands. [2]

New Caledonia topped the medal table by both total golds (82) and total medals (197), with Tahiti finishing second by both respects (57 and 160). Australia finished third, setting a record for the most gold medals and total medals ever won by their delegation at a Pacific Games with 50 and 84. Samoa finished fourth, with a total of 34 gold and 76 medals. Papua New Guinea rounded off the top five list with 29 gold medals and third in the overall medal count, with 105 medals. Host nation Solomon Islands won twelve gold medals and 78 medals, its best result at any Pacific Games, finishing in seventh place. Marshall Islands won their first ever Pacific Games gold medals, a record five all from weightlifting.

Host selection

Two countries expressed interest and launched bids for the 17th games. Tahiti, French Polynesia, which hosted the event in 1971 and 1995, was the first to express their intentions in hosting the 2023 Games during the Pacific Games Council (PGC) General Assembly in Port Moresby in July 2015. The other bidder, the Solomon Islands, in 2016 expressed interest with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare launching the country's bid for a potential first time host of the quadrennial event. [3] On 11 May 2016, during the PGC General Assembly in Port Vila, with the decision taken by the 22 members of the PGC awarded the hosting rights to the Solomon Islands. The margin of victory was reportedly a single vote. [4]

2023 Pacific Games bidding results
CityPGAFinal Votes
Honiara Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 12
Pape'ete Flag of French Polynesia.svg Tahiti, French Polynesia 10

Development and preparation

The 'Pacific Games 2023 Act 2017' created the National Hosting Authority (NHA) as the 2023 Pacific Games Hosting Authority to manage the duties of the committees created by the Act, including the Games Organizing Committee, Games Facilities Committee, and NHA Secretariat. [5] The NHA's responsibility is to oversee the 2023 Pacific Games overall by making sure the Solomon Islands Pacific Games Association and the Government fulfill their obligations under the host contract and by managing the Games' financial planning and budgeting. This strives to ensure vital connection between public services, venues, and building. Additionally, NHA makes sure that the provisions of the Pacific Games 2023 Act (2017) are followed and upheld. [6]

Security

Military and police personal from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand assisted the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force throughout the games. [7] [8]

Venues

The games will take place in 11 venues spread across the host city of Honiara. The 2023 Pacific Games' sport venues are conveniently close to one another and can be reached in 5 to 30 minutes. [9] The following venues have been confirmed:

Participating nations

24 countries and territories participated: the 22 Pacific Games Associations (PGA), and two Associate members - New Zealand, and Australia.

Sports

As amended in the Pacific Games charter on 14 July 2019, in Apia, Samoa, the programme of the Pacific Games shall consist of 17 mandatory sports and 7 optionals who have to reflect the local interests. [10] [11] The following sports are scheduled for the games:

Calendar

The 2023 schedule by session was released by the Games Organizing Committee on 19 June 2023. [12]

Daily medal events for all sports are yet to be confirmed.

All dates are Solomon Islands Time (GMT+11)
OC Opening ceremonyEvent competitions1Gold medal eventsCCClosing ceremony
November/December 2023NovemberDecemberEvents
17
Fri
18
Sat
19
Sun
20
Mon
21
Tue
22
Wed
23
Thu
24
Fri
25
Sat
26
Sun
27
Mon
28
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29
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1
Fri
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Sat
Olympic Rings Icon.svg Ceremonies OC CC
Archery pictogram.svg Archery
Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics 7101012132
Basketball Basketball pictogram.svg Basketball2
3-on-3 basketball pictogram.svg 3×3 Basketball2
Bodybuilding pictogram.svg Bodybuilding 10
Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing 49
Field hockey pictogram.svg Field hockey 2
Football pictogram.svg Football 11
Golf pictogram.svg Golf 4
Judo pictogram.svg Judo 14
Karate pictogram.svg Karate
Netball pictogram.svg Netball 1
Canoeing pictogram.svg Outrigger canoeing
Powerlifting pictogram (Paralympics).svg Powerlifting 844
Rugby league pictogram.svg Rugby league nines 2
Rugby union pictogram.svg Rugby sevens 2
Sailing pictogram.svg Sailing
Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming 888883
Table tennis pictogram.svg Table tennis 428
Taekwondo pictogram.svg Taekwondo
Tennis pictogram.svg Tennis 214
Rugby union pictogram.svg Touch rugby 21
Triathlon pictogram.svg Triathlon
Volleyball Volleyball pictogram.svg Indoor volleyball2
Beach volleyball pictogram.svg Beach volleyball2
Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting 151212129
Total events
Cumulative total
November/DecemberFri
17
Sat
18
Sun
19
Mon
20
Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
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Sun
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Events

Medal table

  *   Host nation (Solomon Islands)

2023 Pacific Games medal table [13]
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of New Caledonia.svg  New Caledonia 825758197
2Flag of French Polynesia.svg  Tahiti 575350160
3Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 50241084
4Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 34212176
5Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 293739105
6Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 21304091
7Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands*12363078
8Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 10131235
9Flag of Nauru.svg  Nauru 1012628
10Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 74617
11Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 531018
12Flag of the Marshall Islands.svg  Marshall Islands 53210
13Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands 51612
14Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg  Wallis and Futuna 36615
15Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 351119
16Flag of Kiribati.svg  Kiribati 32611
17Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia.svg  Federated States of Micronesia 3104
18Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 28919
19Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 1012
20Flag of Tuvalu.svg  Tuvalu 0505
21Flag of American Samoa.svg  American Samoa 0336
22Flag of Palau.svg  Palau 0033
23Flag of Norfolk Island.svg  Norfolk Island 0011
24Flag of Tokelau.svg  Tokelau 0000
Totals (24 entries)342324330996

Ceremonies

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of the 2023 Pacific Games took place on Sunday, 19 November 2023, at the Solomon Islands National Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Closing ceremony

The closing ceremony was held on 2 December 2023, in Solomon Islands National Stadium.

See also

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References

  1. "Solomon Islands awarded 2023 Pacific Games". insidethegames.biz. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  2. "Pacific Games in 2023 delayed by four months after Solomon Islands request more time". insidethegames.biz. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. "Solomon Islands to challenge Tahiti for right to host 2023 Pacific Games". insidethegames.biz. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  4. "Solomon Islands awarded 2023 Pacific Games". insidethegames.biz. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. "Pacific Games 2023 Act 2017" (PDF). www.parliament.gov.sb. National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  6. "NHA Homepage". www.sol2023nha.com. SOL2023NHA. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  7. "Pacific Games 2023: NZDF contingent to support Solomon Islands". RNZ. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. "Australia sends 100 police to Solomon Islands for Pacific Games". Reuters. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  9. "Venues". www.sol2023.com.sb. SOL23. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. "Pacific Games Council" (PDF 705 KB). 14 July 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  11. "SOL2023 PACIFIC GAMES MASTER PLAN" (PDF 747 KB). National Hosting Authority - Sol2023. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  12. "GOC release Sol2023 Sports Schedule". Sol2023. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  13. "Medal standings". 2023 Pacific Games. Retrieved 21 November 2023.