The Pacific Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Olympic Games, with participation exclusively from countries around the South Pacific Ocean. It is held every four years and began in 1963. The most recent Pacific Games were held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in 2015.
Football has been a regular event at 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 2003 South Pacific Games were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003. They are also known as the XII South Pacific Games.
The 2015 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 swimming competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa was held:
Athletics competitions at the 1969 South Pacific Games were held in Port Moresby, Papua and New Guinea, between August 14–20, 1969. Following the event, a "Congress of the delegates of Member Countries of the Australasian Area" was held on August 21, 1969, resulting in the foundation of the Oceania Athletics Association. A total of 34 events were contested, 22 by men and 12 by women.
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.
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.
Swimming at the 1975 South Pacific Games took place in Agana, the capital of Guam on 2–9 August 1975. It was the fifth edition of the South Pacific Games. Four new events were included in 1975. Of the other events previously contested, only one remained without a new South Pacific Games record at the end of the competition after sixteen records were broken in Guam. The teams from the French-administered territories of French Polynesia (Tahiti) and New Caledonia won the most gold medals. The most successful individual swimmer, however, was Papua New Guinea's Charlie Martin who won eight medals, four of which were gold.
The 1999 South Pacific Games, held in Guam from 29 May to 12 June 1999, was the eleventh edition of the South Pacific Games.
The 1987 South Pacific Games, held from 8–20 December 1987 at Nouméa in New Caledonia, was the eight 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 1983 South Pacific Games, held at Apia in Western Samoa from 5–16 September 1983, was the seventh 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.
Swimming at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea was held on July 6–12, 2015. The pool was dominated in the women's events by New Caledonia's Lara Grangeon who won eight individual gold medals and was a team member in four gold medal-winning relays. Papua New Guinea's Ryan Pini won six individual gold medals in the men's events and was a team member in the gold medal-winning mixed 4×50 metre medley relay.
Swimming at the 1963 South Pacific Games took place in Suva, the capital of Fiji. It was the first edition of the South Pacific Games and the race distances were in yards. There were fourteen events in total, eight for men and six for women. Three territories shared the medals; hosts Fiji winning the lion's share, with Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia in second and third place respectively.
Swimming competitions have been held at the Pacific Games since the inaugural edition in 1963 at every Games except for 1983. Swimming has also been held once at the South Pacific Mini Games, in 2005.
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.
Sailing at the Pacific Games was first contested when the sport was added for the 1969 games at Port Moresby. It has also been included at several of the Pacific Mini Games, starting with the fifth edition held in American Samoa in 1997.
