Sport is an important part of Tuvaluan culture, which sporting culture is based on traditional games and athletic activities and the adoption of some of the major international sports of the modern era.
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.
Rugby union has been a men's medal sport at the South Pacific Games, being played at nine of the first ten competitions. The sport debuted at the inaugural 1963 games where the gold medal was won by the host nation. It was subsequently featured in the following games till the tenth games in 1995.
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 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.
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.
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.
Volleyball at the Pacific Games has been played since 1963.
Golf has been contested at the Pacific Games since 1969 when the sport was included as one of fifteen sports at the Third South Pacific Games held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It is a core sport on the Pacific Games program.
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 Tuvalu Weightlifting Federation (TWF) is the organisation recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation as the weightlifting federation of Tuvalu.
Iuniarra Sipaia is a Samoan female weightlifter. She has represented Samoa in several international competitions such as Pacific Mini Games, Commonwealth Games, Oceania Weightlifting Championships and Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
The Solomon Islands national netball team represents Solomon Islands in international netball. The team competes mainly in tournaments within Oceania, such as the Pacific Games. Their most competitive result to date is a bronze medal at the 1981 South Pacific Mini Games.
The Oceania Weightlifting Championships is the continental weightlifting championships for Oceanian nations, organised by the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF). Since 1993, the event also incorporates the South Pacific Weightlifting Championships.
Judo has been contested at the Pacific Games since 1969 when it was included in the Third South Pacific Games held in Port Moresby.| Judo has also been included at the Pacific Mini Games held at Port Vila in 2017.
