The Pacific Games is by far the largest sports gathering in the Pacific. In August 5,000 athletes and technical officials along with 3,500 volunteers are expected to fill the stadium where the opening ceremony will be held.
The Pacific Games is held every four years with its debut seen back in 1963 originating from the islands of Fiji.
All of these athletes will be in one village which will be the main resting quarters of all competitors with an expectation of 300,000 meals served during the 15 days of the games.
22 countries of Oceania have entered the competitions. The participating countries are Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Federated States of the Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Norfolk Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna, and Tahiti.
This year’s games will be composed of 27 sports in 37 different competition venues in the 10 cities all over New Caledonia including the Loyalty Islands of Lifou and Ovea. This will be the third time New Caledonia has hosted the Pacific Games; the first time was in 1966, followed by 1987, and finally in Aug. of 2011.
The CNMI will be sending fewer competitors in the Pacific Games after Nothern Marianas Islands Football Association pulled out from the games because the Oceania Football Confederation, which had sanctioned the Pacific Games is a qualifying tournament for Oceania, didn’t want to have a qualifying tournament with teams that weren’t eligible to qualify through Oceania.
This rule snagged the CNMI and Guam both of which have entered unexpectedly. The board members of NMIFA decided to pull out and not conflict with FIFA because it would create bigger problems for the football association.
Last March CNMI’s bid to host the Pacific Mini-Games in 2017 was turned in. According to Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association’s President Michael White the CNMI’s toughest competitor in the pool of bids will be Vanuatu.
Representatives will be sent to the 2011 Pacific Games to explain the bid proposal at the council meeting. Representatives will include Gov. Benigno Fitial, Michael White, Rose Igitol, and Emelinda Cabrera.
