Pacific Games facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pacific Games

The Pacific Games (in French: Jeux du Pacifique) is a big sports event held every four years. Athletes from countries and islands across Oceania compete in many different sports. The first Games happened in 1963 in Suva, Fiji. The most recent Games were in 2023 in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Before 2007, these Games were called the South Pacific Games. The Pacific Games Council (PGC) is the group that organizes the Games and helps the host cities get ready. Athletes with disabilities are also part of their national teams. In each sport, gold medals are given for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third. The PGC also created a smaller version of the event, called the Pacific Mini Games. This allows smaller nations to host and join in the fun.

Ten cities in seven countries and territories have hosted the Pacific Games. Four countries have hosted the Games three times: Fiji (in 1963, 1979, and 2003), New Caledonia (in 1966, 1987, and 2011), Papua New Guinea (in 1969, 1991, and 2015), and Samoa (in 1983, 2007, and 2019). French Polynesia hosted in 1971 and 1995, and will host again in 2027. The United States territory of Guam hosted the Games twice, in 1975 and 1999. The Solomon Islands hosted the event for the first time in 2023.

Only six countries have taken part in every Pacific Games: Fiji, French Polynesia (Tahiti), New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu. New Caledonia has won the most medals overall and has been the top country 14 times. Papua New Guinea has been the top country twice, and Fiji once.

History of the Games

How the Idea Started

The idea for the South Pacific Games first came from Dr. A.H. Sahu Khan of Fiji. He suggested it at a meeting in 1959. Everyone liked the idea, and in 1961, nine territories met in Nouméa. They decided that Fiji would host the very first Games.

Creating the Games

In 1962, the South Pacific Games Council was formed. It was later renamed the Pacific Games Council. The first Games were held in Suva, Fiji, in 1963. Since then, different nations and territories in the region have hosted them. At first, the Games happened every three years. After the 1969 Games, the schedule changed to every two years for a short time. Then, from 1975 onwards, the event settled into a four-year cycle, which is how it works today.

When the Games started in 1963, many Pacific nations were still under the control of countries like Britain or France. This meant that British and French flags and anthems were sometimes used during ceremonies. Western Samoa (now Samoa) was the only independent island nation at that time, proudly using its own flag. As more territories became independent, they started using their own national symbols. Even with these changes, English and French are still the official languages of the Games.

Like many big events, the Pacific Games have had some challenges. One ongoing discussion is about holding events on Sundays. For many people in the Pacific, Sunday is a special day for religious reasons. In places like Tonga, where Sunday activities are very strict, this has been a sensitive topic. Cultural expectations have also influenced sports. For example, in women's beach volleyball, players sometimes wore more modest clothing instead of bikinis to respect local customs.

Big world events have also affected the Games. In 1995, when Papeete in Tahiti hosted, some countries did not attend. This was to show their disagreement with certain activities happening in the Pacific. However, almost all nations returned for the next Games in 1999.

The Pacific Games Council says its main goal 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 created to help sports grow across the Pacific.

Modern Games

The 2003 South Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji, were special because they included a huge number of sports, 32 in total. This was the first time so many sports were part of the program. It included both traditional Pacific sports and some that were less common in the region.

For the 2003 event, many companies helped by sponsoring the Games. This gave organizers more freedom to make the Games a success. There was also a lively campaign to get people excited, and schools even took part in a new "adopt-a-country" program.

The 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, were the thirteenth Games. Unlike the Olympic Games, which often help the host country's economy, the 2007 Games left Samoa with a large debt. This was mainly because a lot of money was spent on building new roads and other facilities.

Even with money worries, five nations wanted to host the 2015 Pacific Games. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, was chosen. However, the rising costs of hosting these Games continue to be a big challenge.

Name Change

In 2006, the Pacific Games Council decided to change the name of the event. The South Pacific Games officially became the Pacific Games. This change happened after the 2007 Games. So, the 2007 event was the last one to use the old name. From the 2011 Games onwards, the new "Pacific Games" name and logo have been used for everything. This change was made to make the Games feel more modern and fit with other regional changes.

Sports at the Games

At the very first Pacific Games in 1963, athletes competed in ten sports. Over the years, the number of sports grew, reaching a high of 33 sports in 2007. However, in 2016, the Pacific Games Council decided to limit the number of sports to a maximum of 24. This was mainly to help control costs.

As of 2025, 16 sports are considered "core sports." This means they must be included in every Games from 2027 onwards. Triathlon became a core sport in 2016, and archery in 2021. Sailing was a core sport but lost that status in 2025. The other 20 sports are "optional," meaning the host country can choose to include them or not. Some sports, like rugby union 15s and underwater fishing, are no longer part of the Games.

Current and Past Sports

Here are some of the sports that have been part of the Pacific Games:

Sport	Discipline	Code & Pictogram		Body	Years	Status
Archery		ARC		World Archery	1971–1975, 1995, 2003–2011, 2019–present	Core
Athletics		ATH		World Athletics	1963–present	Core
Badminton		BDM		BWF	2003–2011, 2019, 2027	Optional
Baseball and softball	Baseball	BBL		WBSC	1999–2011	Optional
	Softball	SBL			1969–1975, 1991, 2007, 2015	Optional
	Baseball5	BS5			Never	Optional
Basketball	3x3	BK3		FIBA	2019–present	Core
	Basketball	BKB			1963–present	Core
Billiards		BIL		WCBS	Never	Optional
Bodybuilding		BDB		WBPF	1995, 2003–2015, 2023	Optional
Boxing		BOX		World Boxing	1963–present	Core
Cricket		CKT		ICC	1979, 1987–1991, 2003–2019	Optional
Cycling	BMX	BMX		UCI	2027	Optional
	Mountain bike	MTB			Never	Optional
	Road	CRD			1966, 1971–1975, 1987, 1995, 2027	Optional
	Track	CTR			1966, 1971–1975, 1987, 1995	Optional
Field hockey	Field hockey	HOC		FIH	1979, 2003–2007	Optional
	Hockey5s	HO5			2015, 2023	Optional
Football		FBL		FIFA	1963–1995, 2003–present	Core
Golf		GLF		IGF	1969–present	Core
Handball		HBL		IHF	Never	Optional
Judo		JUD		IJF	1969–1979, 1987, 1995–2011, 2019–present	Core
Karate		KTE		WKF	1995–2003, 2011–2015, 2023	Optional
Lawn bowls		LBW		World Bowls	1979, 1983, 1991, 2003–2007, 2015–2019	Optional
Netball		NTB		World Netball	1963–1969, 1979–1983, 1991–2007, 2015–2023	Optional
Outrigger canoeing	Va'a	VAA		IVF	1995–present	Core
	Kayak	KYK			2023–present	Core
Powerlifting		PLF		IPF	1995, 2003–present	Optional
Rugby league nines		RL9		IRL	2007, 2015–2023	Optional
Rugby	Sevens	RU7		World Rugby	1999–present	Core
Sailing		SAL		World Sailing	1969–1979, 1987–present	Optional
Shooting		SHO		ISSF	1987, 1995, 2003–2019, 2027	Optional
Snooker		SNK		WCBS	Never	Optional
Squash		SQU		WSF	1979–1991, 2003–2019, 2027	Optional
Surfing		SRF		ISA	1995, 2003–2011, 2027	Optional
Swimming		SWM		World Aquatics	1963–1979, 1987–present	Core
Table tennis		TTE		ITTF	1963–present	Core
Taekwondo		TKW		World Taekwondo	1995–present	Core
Tennis		TEN		ITF	1963–present	Core
Touch rugby		TRU		FIT	2003–2007, 2015–2023	Optional
Triathlon		TRI		World Triathlon	1995–present	Core
Volleyball	Beach	VBV		FIVB	1999–present	Core
	Indoor	VVO			1963–present	Core
Weightlifting		WLF		IWF	1966–present	Core
Wrestling	Freestyle	WRF		UWW	1999, 2007, 2027	Optional
	Greco-Roman	WRG			1999, 2007, 2027	Optional
	Beach	WRB			2027	Optional
Rugby	Union	RUG		World Rugby	1963–1971, 1979–1995	Discontinued
Underwater fishing		FSH		CMAS	1971–1975, 1995–1999	Discontinued

Participating Nations

Six teams have been to every Pacific Games: Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu. The table below shows all the countries and territories that have taken part.

PGA	Code	63	66	69	71	75	79	83	87	91	95	99	03	07	11	15	19	23	Total
American Samoa	ASA	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16
Australia	AUS															•	•	•	3
Cook Islands	COK	•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	15
Federated States of Micronesia	FSM	Trust Territory of Micronesia										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Fiji	FIJ	H	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	17
French Polynesia	PYF	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	17
Gilbert and Ellice Islands [^]	GEI	•	•		•														3
Guam	GUM		•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	•	16
Kiribati	KIR	Gilbert and Ellice Islands					•					•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8
Marshall Islands	MHL	Trust Territory of Micronesia										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Trust Territory of Micronesia [^]	TTM					•													1
Nauru	NRU	•	•	•	•	•	•			•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	14
New Caledonia	NCL	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	17
New Zealand	NZL															•	•	•	3
Niue	NIU	•					•	•		•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	11
Norfolk Island	NFK						•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	12
Northern Mariana Islands	NMI	Trust Territory of Micronesia					•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	11
Palau	PLW	Trust Territory of Micronesia										•	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Papua New Guinea	PNG	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	•	•	•	H	•	•	17
Samoa	SAM	•	•	•	•	•	•	H		•		•	•	H	•	•	H	•	15
Solomon Islands	SOL	•	•	•	•	•	•	•		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	H	16
Tokelau	TKL	Gilbert and Ellice Islands					•	•					•	•	•	•	•	•	8
Tonga	TGA	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	17
Tuvalu	TUV	Gilbert and Ellice Islands					•					•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8
Vanuatu	VAN	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	17
Wallis and Futuna	WLF		•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	16

Name change notes

^ PNG: Papua New Guinea participated under its former name of Papua and New Guinea (PNG) between 1963 and 1971.
^ SAM: Samoa participated under its former name of Western Samoa (WSM) between 1963 and 1995.
^ VAN: Vanuatu participated under its former name of New Hebrides (NHB) between 1963 and 1979.

Participation notes

All-Time Medal Table

The Games don't officially declare a "winner" based on medals. They value fair play and friendly competition more.

*Note : Nation(s) in italics no longer participate at the Pacific Games.

Updated after the 2023 Pacific Games.

Rank	PGA / NOC	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	New Caledonia	993	784	689	2,466
2	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	574	501	530	1,605
3	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	499	488	475	1,462
4	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	443	516	539	1,498
5	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	266	216	220	702
6	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	110	79	68	257
7	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	100	52	35	187
8	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	72	112	140	324
9	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	60	74	113	247
10	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	45	51	84	180
11	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	36	57	80	173
12	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	33	103	140	276
13	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	31	51	97	179
14	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	29	65	110	204
15	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	23	15	10	48
16	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	19	31	28	78
17	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	16	27	39	82
18	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	13	13	18	44
19	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	9	14	16	39
20	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	7	15	19	41
21	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	5	6	14	25
22	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	3	2	2	7
23	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	2	9	6	17
24	Lua error in Module:Country_alias at line 265: Parameter 2 should be a competition name.	2	6	13	21
25	Gilbert and Ellice Islands	0	1	1	2
Totals (25 entries)		3,390	3,288	3,486	10,164

• Totals for Samoa include all medals won as  Samoa
• Totals for Vanuatu include all medals won as  New Hebrides

Editions of the Games

List of Pacific Games Events

Games	No.	Host	Games dates / Opened by	Sports	Competitors	Events	Nations	Top nation
	1963	I	Suva	29 August – 8 September 1963 Governor Sir Kenneth Maddocks	10	646	58	13	Fiji
1966	II	Nouméa	8 – 18 December 1966 Minister Pierre Billotte	12	1200	86	14	New Caledonia
1969	III	Port Moresby	13 – 23 August 1969 Prince Edward, Duke of Kent	15	1150	95	12	New Caledonia
1971	IV	Papeʻetē	25 August – 5 September 1971 Minister Pierre Messmer	17	2000	117	14	New Caledonia
1975	V	Agaña	1 – 10 August 1975 Governor Ricardo Bordallo	16	1205	119	13	New Caledonia
1979	VI	Suva	28 August – 8 September 1979 Governor-General Ratu Sir George Cakobau	18	2672	129	19	New Caledonia
1983	VII	Apia	5 – 16 September 1983 Head of State Malietoa Tanumafili II	15	2500	97	13	New Caledonia
1987	VIII	Nouméa	8 – 20 December 1987 Unknown	18	1650	159	12	New Caledonia
1991	IX	Port Moresby and Lae	7 – 21 September 1991 Prince Andrew, Duke of York	17	2000	164	16	Papua New Guinea
1995	X	Papeʻetē	25 – 5 September 1995 Unknown	25	2000	253	12	New Caledonia
1999	XI	Santa Rita	29 May – 12 June 1999 Unknown	22	+3000	233	21	New Caledonia
2003	XII	Suva	28 June – 12 July 2003 President Josefa Iloilo	32	5000	309	22	New Caledonia
2007	XIII	Apia	25 August – 8 September 2007 Head of State Tufuga Efi	33	5000	305	22	New Caledonia
2011	XIV	Nouméa	27 August – 10 September 2011 French President Nicolas Sarkozy	27	4300	305	22	New Caledonia
2015	XV	Port Moresby	4 – 18 July 2015 Prince Andrew, Duke of York	28	3700	299	24	Papua New Guinea
2019	XVI	Apia	7 – 20 July 2019 Head of State Va'aletoa Sualauvi II	26	4000	322	24	New Caledonia
2023	XVII	Honiara	19 November – 2 December 2023 Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare	24	5000	342	24	New Caledonia
2027	XVIII	Pirae	24 July – 8 August 2027 TBA	24	TBA	TBA	24 (expected)	TBD
2031	XIX	Nuku'alofa	TBA 2031 TBA	24	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBD

More About Games

• Pacific Mini Games
• Micronesian Games

Global Sports Events

• Olympic Games – A huge worldwide sports event.
• World Games – Focuses on sports not in the Olympics.

Other Big Regional Games

• African Games
• Asian Games
• European Games
• Pan American Games
  • South American Games

Community-Based Games

• Commonwealth Games – For countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
• Jeux de la Francophonie – For countries and territories where French is spoken.

See also

In Spanish: Juegos del Pacífico para niños