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Abbreviation | PAG |
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First event | 1963 |
Occur every | 4 years |
Last event | 2023 |
Next event | 2027 |
Headquarters | Suva, Fiji |
President | Vidhya Lakhan |
Website | Official website |
Olympic Games |
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Main topics |
Games |
Regional games |
Defunct games |
The Pacific Games (French: Jeux du Pacifique), is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from Oceania. The inaugural Games took place in 1963 in Suva, Fiji, and most recently in 2023 in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Games were called the South Pacific Games from 1963 to 2007. The Pacific Games Council (PGC) organises the Games and oversees the host city's preparations. Athletes with a disability are included as full members of their national teams. In each sporting event, gold medals are awarded for first place, silver medals are awarded for second place, and bronze medals are awarded for third place.
Ten different cities in seven countries and territories have hosted the Pacific Games. Four countries have hosted the games three times: Fiji (1963, 1979, 2003), New Caledonia (1966, 1987, 2011), Papua New Guinea (1969, 1991, 2015) and Samoa (1983, 2007, 2019). French Polynesia, who hosted in 1971 and 1995, will become the fifth country to host the Games for the third time in 2027. The United States territory of Guam have hosted the Games twice in 1975 and 1999. The Solomon Islands hosted the event for the first time in 2023.
Only six countries have attended every edition of the Pacific Games: Fiji, French Polynesia (Tahiti), New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu. New Caledonia have dominated fourteen out of the seventeen Pacific Games, Papua New Guinea with two, and Fiji with one.
The idea of holding the South Pacific Games originated with Dr A.H. Sahu Khan who was one of Fiji's representatives at a meeting of the South Pacific Commission held at Rabaul during 1959. The idea was adopted and led to a meeting of nine Territories, held in Nouméa during March 1961, which awarded Fiji the honour of hosting the very first Games. [1]
During 1962, the South Pacific Commission founded the South Pacific Games Council, with the first ever Games being held at Suva, Fiji. In the 40 years since, Games have been held in 12 countries and territories within the region. Initially the Games were held at three-year intervals although this was subsequently expanded to four following the Tumon Games in Guam.
As a residual consequence of the European colonisation of the Pacific from the early part of the 18th Century onwards, many nations who participated in the first Games (of 1963) were under predominantly British or French territorial rule. Understandably this generated a certain amount of confusion as both British and French flags and national anthems dominated proceedings and were occasionally used together for winning countries.
Western Samoa (now Samoa) was the only country with a flag and anthem of its sovereignty as it was the only participating independent island nation at that time. As time went on, fledgling nations gradually achieving sovereignty of their own sought to extricate themselves from their colonial past and new national anthems and flags emerged. Nevertheless, English and French remain the official languages of the Games. [2]
Like other sporting events, the South Pacific Games has experienced slight controversies. A minor dispute that still continues today is the scheduling of events landing on a Sunday. Throughout the Pacific, the Christian Sabbath remains very important (sporting events or similar activity are illegal in Tonga for example) and scheduling at such a time would be frowned upon. The events themselves have also been affected by religious sensitivities, notably beach volleyball where the official uniform of bikinis for women has been forced to give way to more conservative attire. [3] However other larger nations within the region or those loosely associated with more secular states (e.g. Cook Islands (New Zealand), American Samoa (United States), and French Polynesia (France)) are more moderate in this regard.
Other global and regional events have also influenced and shaped the Games' history. In 1995, the year Papeete, Tahiti hosted the Games, many countries took the decision to boycott as a direct protest at French nuclear testing in the Pacific. [4] The Games, however, returned to near full regional participation in the following event in 1999, held on Guam.
The first objective of the Pacific Games Council, according to its Charter, [5] is
"To create bonds of kindred friendship and brotherhood amongst people of the countries of the Pacific region through sporting exchange without any distinctions as to race, religion or politics."
The Games were initiated to promote and develop sport amongst the nations and peoples of the South Pacific. [1] After fifty years in existence, The South Pacific Commission changed its name to the Pacific Community . [1]
The XII South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji saw for the first time the introduction of a full program of 32 sports. [6] That program included sports that are synonymous with the Pacific region as well as sports that have a limited participation and are generally not well established.
A strong corporate sponsorship package a first for the games enabled the organizers to work with a free hand towards their aims of making the games a success. A colorful and effective media and publicity campaign generated much interest and enthusiasm among the public in Fiji. Schools and youth groups were involved in interactive programs such as the adopt-a-country program also a first for the games. [7]
The XIII Pacific Games were hosted in Apia, Samoa. They were the 13th to have been held since 1963. In contrast to the Olympic Games which are expected to generate income for the host nation, [8] the 2007 Pacific Games were expected to leave Samoa US$92million in debt, predominantly as a result of expenditure on large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads. [9]
Potential debt positions notwithstanding, five nations (Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and American Samoa) bid for the 2015 Pacific Games. The Games were ultimately awarded to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and follow the 2011 Pacific Games held in Nouméa, New Caledonia. However the rising cost (purportedly in excess of $1 billion) and the logistical burden of putting on the games continue to threaten countries' abilities to host the event. [10]
The games governing body is the Pacific Games Council. The Games council flag is presented to the host nation of the next games at the end of every games. With expansion and economic growth in the Pacific and Oceania countries of the Pacific Islands, the South Pacific Games Council decided to modernise and revise its charter in light of these changes in the region and the changing place of Sport in our society, thus the council adapted a new charter in 2007.
The current President of the Council is Vidhya Lakhan from Fiji.
Membership of the Council includes internationally recognised National Multisport Organisations within countries and territories who are members of the Pacific Community. [5] There are currently 22 members, 15 of which are members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). [11] The Pitcairn Islands are the only Pacific Community member that is not a member of the Pacific Games Council, whereas Norfolk Island was admitted as a member of the Council despite not being a member of the Pacific Community.
In July 2014, the Oceania National Olympic Committees voted to allow Australia and New Zealand to take part in the 2015 Pacific Games. The risk of seeing the two wealthy, populous developed nations dominate the competition had previously prevented their inclusion. They were allowed to send participants only in rugby sevens, sailing, taekwondo and weightlifting — sports where other Pacific countries had proved sufficiently competitive against them in the past. [12] New Zealand was allowed to compete in the 2019 men's football competition with an U-23 team, which won the gold medal. [13] Australia and New Zealand have since continued to compete on an invitational basis.
In 2018, the Council created an "associate membership" category for other territories in Oceania. [14] Potential candidates for membership include Bougainville, Easter Island, Western New Guinea, Hawaii and Christmas Island. [15]
Year | Edition | Host city | Host Association | Opened by | Sports | Events | Teams | Start date | End date | Competitors | Top Association | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | I | Suva | ![]() | Sir Kenneth Maddocks | 10 | 58 | 13 | 29 Aug. | 8 Sep. | 646 | ![]() | |
1966 | II | Nouméa | ![]() | Unknown | 12 | 86 | 14 | 8 Dec. | 18 Dec. | 1200 | ![]() | |
1969 | III | Port Moresby | ![]() | Prince Edward | 15 | 95 | 12 | 13 Aug. | 23 Aug. | 1150 | ![]() | |
1971 | IV | Papeete | ![]() | Pierre Messmer | 17 | 117 | 14 | 25 Aug. | 5 Sep. | 2000 | ![]() | |
1975 | V | Tamuning | ![]() | Ricardo Bordallo | 16 | 119 | 13 | 1 Aug. | 10 Aug. | 1205 | ![]() | |
1979 | VI | Suva | ![]() | Unknown | 18 | 129 | 19 | 28 Aug. | 8 Sep. | 2672 | ![]() | |
1983 | VII | Apia | ![]() | Malietoa Tanumafili II | 15 | 97 | 13 | 5 Sep. | 16 Sep. | 2500 | ![]() | |
1987 | VIII | Nouméa | ![]() | Unknown | 18 | 159 | 12 | 8 Dec. | 20 Dec. | 1650 | ![]() | |
1991 | IX | Port Moresby | ![]() | Prince Andrew | 17 | 164 | 16 | 7 Sep. | 21 Sep. | 2000 | ![]() | |
1995 | X | Papeete | ![]() | Unknown | 25 | 253 | 12 | 25 Aug. | 5 Sep. | 2000 | ![]() | |
1999 | XI | Santa Rita | ![]() | Unknown | 22 | 233 | 21 | 29 May | 12 Jun. | 3000+ | ![]() | |
2003 | XII | Suva | ![]() | Josefa Iloilo | 32 | 309 | 22 | 28 Jun. | 12 Jul. | 5000 | ![]() | |
2007 | XIII | Apia | ![]() | Tufuga Efi | 33 | 305 | 22 | 25 Aug. | 8 Sep. | 5000 | ![]() | |
2011 | XIV | Nouméa | ![]() | Nicolas Sarkozy | 27 | 305 | 22 | 27 Aug. | 10 Sep. | 4300 | ![]() | |
2015 | XV | Port Moresby | ![]() | Prince Andrew | 28 | 300 | 24 | 4 Jul. | 18 Jul. | 3700 | ![]() | |
2019 | XVI | Apia | ![]() | Va'aletoa Sualauvi II | 26 | 322 | 24 | 7 Jul. | 20 Jul. | 3500 | ![]() | |
2023 | XVII | Honiara | ![]() | Manasseh Sogavare | 24 | 342 | 24 | 19 Nov. | 2 Dec. | 5000 | ![]() | [16] |
2027 | XVIII | Pirae | ![]() | TBA | 24 | TBD | 24 | 24 Jul. | 8 Aug. | TBD | ||
2031 | XIX | TBA | 24 | TBD | 24 | TBD |
There are 37 sports approved by the Pacific Games Council, as at December 2017. [17] In accordance with the Pacific Games Charter, a maximum 24 sports shall be contested at every games starting from the 2023 games and onwards. [18]
The number of Pacific Games core sports is 17, effective for the 2023 Games. The core sports are required to be included at every edition of the games. [18] Sailing and Triathlon were made core sports in 2016, [18] and Archery was added in 2021. [19]
Details for each core sport, up to and including the 2023 games, are presented in the table below:
Sport (discipline) | Contested | Years | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Archery | ![]() | 8 times | 1971–1975, 1995, 2003–2011, 2019–present | |
Athletics | ![]() | All | 1963–present | |
Basketball a | (5x5) | ![]() | All | 1963–present |
(3x3) | ![]() | 2 times | 2019–present | |
Boxing | ![]() | All | 1963–present | |
Football | ![]() | 16 times | 1963–1995, 2003–present | |
Golf | ![]() | 15 times | 1969–present | |
Judo | ![]() | 12 times | 1969–1979, 1987, 1995–2011, 2019–present | |
Outrigger canoeing | ![]() | 8 times | 1995–present | |
Rugby sevens | ![]() | 6 times | 1999–present | |
Sailing | ![]() | 14 times | 1969–1979, 1987–present | |
Swimming | ![]() | 16 times | 1963–1979, 1987–present | |
Table tennis | ![]() | All | 1963–present | |
Taekwondo | ![]() | 8 times | 1995–present | |
Tennis | ![]() | All | 1963–present | |
Triathlon | ![]() | 8 times | 1995–present | |
Volleyball b | (indoor) | ![]() | All | 1963–present |
(beach) | ![]() | 7 times | 1999–present | |
Weightlifting | ![]() | 16 times | 1966–present | |
There are 20 optional sports could be chosen for inclusion at a games, as selected by the host city organising committee. Details for each optional sport, up to and including the 2023 games, are presented in the table below:
Sport (discipline) | Contested | Years | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Badminton | ![]() | 4 times | 2003–2011, 2019 | |
Baseball | ![]() | 4 times | 1999–2011 | |
Billiards | ![]() | Never | N/A | |
Bodybuilding | ![]() | 6 times | 1995, 2003–2015, 2023 | |
Cricket | ![]() | 8 times | 1979, 1987–1991, 2003–present | |
Cycling | ![]() | 5 times | 1966, 1971–1975, 1987, 1995 | |
Field hockey | ![]() | 5 times | 1979, 2003–2007, 2015, 2023 | |
Handball | ![]() | Never | N/A | |
Karate | ![]() | 6 times | 1995–2003, 2011–2015, 2023 | |
Lawn bowls | ![]() | 7 times | 1979, 1983, 1991, 2003–2007, 2015–2019 | |
Netball c | ![]() | 13 times | 1963–1969, 1979–1983, 1991–2007, 2015–present | |
Powerlifting | ![]() | 7 times | 1995, 2003–present | |
Rugby league nines | ![]() | 4 times | 2007, 2015–present | |
Shooting | ![]() | 7 times | 1987, 1995, 2003–2019 | |
Snooker | ![]() | Never | N/A | |
Softball | ![]() | 6 times | 1969–1975, 1991, 2007, 2015 | |
Squash | ![]() | 9 times | 1979–1991, 2003–2019 | |
Surfing | ![]() | 4 times | 1995, 2003–2011 | |
Touch rugby d | ![]() | 5 times | 2003–2007, 2015–present | |
Wrestling | ![]() | 2 times | 1999, 2007 | |
Former sports include rugby 15s (replaced by rugby 7s) and underwater fishing (last contested in 1999).
Sport (discipline) | Contested | Years | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Rugby union | ![]() | 9 times | 1963–1971, 1979–1995 | |
Underwater fishing | ![]() | 4 times | 1971–1975, 1995–1999 |
Also included at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games was rugby league 7s (now replaced by rugby league 9s).
Notes:
^a The 3x3 format was added as an extra discipline for basketball in 2019 after being included at the Mini Games in 2017.
^b Volleyball and beach volleyball disciplines have been listed as one sport for the purposes of the Games program since some time after the bids for the XV Games (in conjunction with the maximum number of sports being reduced from 28 to 26 for the XVI Games). [20] [21]
^c Netball is a women's competition only.
^d Touch rugby is an optional sport but men's, women's and mixed tournaments must be included if touch rugby is selected.Officially, the final medal tally of the Games does not recognize a winner, regarding competition and fair play more highly. [7]
*Note : Nation(s) in italics no longer participate at the Pacific Games.
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 993 | 784 | 689 | 2,466 |
2 | ![]() | 574 | 503 | 529 | 1,606 |
3 | ![]() | 499 | 473 | 485 | 1,457 |
4 | ![]() | 443 | 515 | 538 | 1,496 |
5 | ![]() | 266 | 214 | 222 | 702 |
6 | ![]() | 111 | 79 | 67 | 257 |
7 | ![]() | 100 | 52 | 35 | 187 |
8 | ![]() | 72 | 112 | 140 | 324 |
9 | ![]() | 60 | 74 | 114 | 248 |
10 | ![]() | 45 | 51 | 84 | 180 |
11 | ![]() | 36 | 57 | 80 | 173 |
12 | ![]() | 32 | 68 | 111 | 211 |
13 | ![]() | 31 | 88 | 122 | 241 |
14 | ![]() | 28 | 48 | 91 | 167 |
15 | ![]() | 23 | 15 | 10 | 48 |
16 | ![]() | 19 | 32 | 28 | 79 |
17 | ![]() | 15 | 28 | 39 | 82 |
18 | ![]() | 13 | 13 | 18 | 44 |
19 | ![]() | 9 | 14 | 16 | 39 |
20 | ![]() | 7 | 15 | 19 | 41 |
21 | ![]() | 5 | 7 | 15 | 27 |
22 | ![]() | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
23 | ![]() | 2 | 9 | 6 | 17 |
24 | ![]() | 2 | 6 | 13 | 21 |
25 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Totals (25 entries) | 3,388 | 3,260 | 3,474 | 10,122 |
Association football has been regularly included in the Pacific Games, the multi-sports event for Pacific nations, territories and dependencies, since 1963. Until 2011 the competition was known as the South Pacific Games.
The 12th South Pacific Games, also known as Suva 2003, were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003.
The 15th Pacific Games, also known as Port Moresby 2015 or POM 2015, was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 4 to 18 July 2015. It was the fifteenth staging of the Pacific Games as well as the third to be hosted in Port Moresby.
The Pacific Mini Games is a continental multi-sport event contested by countries and territories located in Oceania. The event has been held every four years since the inaugural games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 1981. It was known as the South Pacific Mini Games prior to 2009. It is called the 'Mini' games because it is a scaled-down version of the main Pacific Games and is similarly rotated on a four-year basis in the intervening years between the main Games.
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.
A cricket tournament at the Pacific Games, previously the South Pacific Games, was introduced in 1979 and was played intermittently at games in the 1980s and 1990s, depending on the facilities of the host nation. It was played continuously from 2003 to 2019, but was not included for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. Detailed records of the tournaments prior to 2003 have not been kept and little is known with certainty of the first three tournaments, beyond knowing what teams won the gold and silver medals at each Games.
Sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular playing sport for men in Australia is Australian rules football, while for women is netball. Australian rules football is the most popular sport in terms of spectatorship and television ratings. Rugby union is the most popular sport among New Zealanders, while in Papua New Guinea rugby league is the most popular. Cricket is another popular sport throughout the Oceania region.
Tuvalu participates in the Pacific Games which is a multi-sport event with participation exclusively from countries in Oceania. Known as the South Pacific Games prior to 2009, the games are currently held every four years.
The 16th Pacific Games, also known as Apia 2019, were held from 7 to 20 July 2019. The Games were held in Apia, Samoa, returning there for the first time since 2007. It was the third time overall that the Pacific Games were held in Samoa.
Athletics competitions at the 2007 Pacific Games were held at the Apia Park in Apia, Samoa, between September 3–8, 2007. A total of 45 events were contested, 23 by men and 22 by women. This year 6 games records were set.
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 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 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 7th South Pacific Games, also known as Apia 1983, held on 5–16 September 1983 in Apia, Western Samoa, was the seventh edition of the South Pacific Games.
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.
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.
The 2017 Pacific Mini Games were held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in December 2017. It was the tenth edition of the Pacific Mini Games, and the second to be hosted in Vanuatu.
Touch rugby was introduced to the Pacific Games in 2003 at Suva in Fiji. It is an optional sport for the Pacific Games program, and the tournaments include men's, women's and mixed competitions. The first touch rugby tournament at the Pacific Mini Games was played in the Cook Islands in 2009.