Pacific Games

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The Pacific Games (formerly known as the South Pacific Games) is a multi-sport event, much like the Olympics, (albeit on a much smaller scale), with participation exclusively from countries around the South Pacific. It is held every four years and began in 1963, hosted by Suva, Fiji. The 2007 Pacific Games were hosted in Apia, Samoa between 25 August and 8 September, 2007.

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[edit] History

During 1962, the South Pacific Commission founded the South Pacific Games, 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, the official languages of the Games remain as French and English.[1]

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.[2] However other larger nations within the region or those loosely associated with more secular states (e.g Cook Islands (New Zealand), American Samoa (USA), 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.[3] The Games, however, returned to near full regional participation in the following event in 1999, held on Guam.

According to the Pacific Games Council[1], The South Pacific Games were established with a view to

"creating 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 South Pacific Games were established to ensure the efficient promotion and development of sports amongst the South Pacific Nations and their peoples[1].

With expansion and economic growth in the Pacific and Oceania region, the South Pacific Commission changed its name in 1998 to the Pacific Community[1].

The "Pacific Games" as they are now to be styled are intended to be something of a physical representation of the Pacific Communities as they move forward from the first South Pacific Games in 1963.[1]

The XII South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji saw for the first time the introduction of a full program of 32 sports.[4] 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.[1]

The XIII Pacific Games are to be hosted in Apia, Samoa. They will be the 13th to have been held since 1963.

In contrast to the Olympic Games which are expected to generate income for the host nation[5], the 2007 Pacific Games are expected to leave Samoa US$92million in debt, predominantly as a result of expenditure on large-scale infrastructure projects such as bridges and roads.[6] Potential debt positions notwithstanding, five nations (Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and American Samoa) are expected to bid for the 2015 Pacific Games.

[edit] Pacific Mini Games

Since 1981 the region has also run the Pacific Mini Games (previously the South Pacific Mini Games) to enable smaller nations to compete against each other.

Also a multi-sport event 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 following cities and nations have hosted (or will host) the Pacific Mini Games:

As with the main games, the cost of providing the necessary facilities and infrastructure is a concern to the region's smaller nations. In preparation for the 2009 Games in Rarotonga, despite having hosted the games previously, the local government considered diverting funds from a highway project, and secured a loan for US$10 million from the Chinese government to finance the building of a stadium.[7][8]

[edit] Qualification for FIFA World Cup

For the first time in 2007, the Pacific Games formed part of the qualification to the FIFA World Cup of soccer (see also Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games).[9]

The Pacific Games were, until 2007, open for teams associated to the Oceania Football Confederation only, for example teams from Micronesia or Tuvalu or provisional members of the NF-Board such as Kiribati.[10]

[edit] South Pacific Games Locations

[edit] Sporting Events

[edit] Cumulative Medals Table (after 2007 South Pacific Games)

Officially[1] the final medal tally of the Games does not recognize a 'winner', regarding 'competition' and 'fair play' more highly.

South Pacific Games medal count
Pos Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 New Caledonia 658 516 468 1638
2 Flag of French Polynesia French Polynesia 386 337 355 1078
3 Flag of Fiji Fiji 353 417 340 1110
4 Flag of Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 296 305 296 897
5 Flag of Samoa Samoa (includes Western Samoa) 145 112 112 379
6 Flag of Nauru Nauru 74 41 25 142
7 Flag of Guam Guam 59 88 115 264
8 Flag of American Samoa American Samoa 41 42 70 153
9 Flag of Tonga Tonga 38 54 73 164
10 Flag of Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna 22 35 71 128
11 Flag of the Cook Islands Cook Islands 19 36 41 96
11 Flag of the Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia 13 15 11 39
13 Flag of Vanuatu Vanuatu (includes New Hebrides) 12 33 53 98
14 Flag of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands 10 42 72 122
15 Flag of Palau Palau 9 13 9 31
16 Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana 4 12 12 28
17 Flag of Norfolk Island Norfolk Island 3 10 15 28
18 Flag of Tokelau Tokelau 3 2 1 6
19 Flag of Kiribati Kiribati (includes Gilbert & Ellice) 2 10 15 29
20 Flag of the Marshall Islands Marshall Islands - 3 6 9
21 Flag of Niue Niue - 1 6 7
22 Flag of Tuvalu Tuvalu - 1 1 2

[edit] Future Prospects

The possibility of extending participation to all members of the Pacific Islands Forum has been flagged and it is hoped that participation of all countries will occur at the next games due to be held in 2010.[citation needed]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Pacifc Games Council Charter
  2. ^ Bikinis out, Shorts in at Beach Volleyball Pacific Radio News - Niue FM, 29 August 2007
  3. ^ French tests: Opposition grows, article summarising the response to French nuclear testing in the Pacific from World Information Service on Energy retrieved 19 February 2007
  4. ^ Sidsnet.org
  5. ^ Article by CBRE regarding increase to gross domestic product and real estate values as a result of the 2004 Athens Olympics
  6. ^ "Games puts Samoa in debt", ABC Radio Australia, 2007-09-03. Retrieved on 2007-09-03. 
  7. ^ Stadium and China loan on hold Cook Islands News Online, 12 September 2007
  8. ^ "Stadium for Mini Games in Cooks gets go-ahead", Radio New Zealand, 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. 
  9. ^ OFC 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP ROUTE VIA ASIA, Oceania Football Confederation Official site. Retrieved on December 20, 2006
  10. ^ South Pacific Games 2003 (Fiji), Evidence of all matches in men's and women's football (soccer) tournaments on Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved on July 14, 2003 (Author: Andre Zlotkowski)

[edit] External links