Pacific Mini Games

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Sporting event

title: "Pacific Mini Games" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["pacific-games", "recurring-sporting-events-established-in-1981"] description: "Sporting event" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Mini_Games" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sporting event ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox sporting event organization"]

FieldValue
namePacific Mini Games
imagePacific Logo.svg
abbreviationPMG
formation1981
recurrence4 years
headquartersSuva, Fiji
leader_titlePresident
leader_nameVidhya Lakhan
::

|name = Pacific Mini Games |image = Pacific Logo.svg |caption = |abbreviation = PMG |motto = |formation = 1981 |recurrence = 4 years |membership = |purpose = |headquarters = Suva, Fiji |leader_title = President |leader_name = Vidhya Lakhan |website =

The Pacific Mini Games are a continental multi-sport event contested by countries and territories located in Oceania. The event has been held every four years since the inaugural games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 1981. It was known as the South Pacific Mini Games prior to 2009. It is called the 'Mini' games because 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 Mini Games have been hosted by 9 different Pacific Island capitals around 4 countries and 5 territories. The Cook Islands have hosted twice and is scheduled for a third in 2029. Vanuatu and Palau have also hosted two Games. Similarly to the main Games, athletes with a disability are included as full members of their national teams. In each sporting event, gold medals are awarded for first place, silver medals are awarded for second place, and bronze medals are awarded for third place.

Unlike the main Games, there is equal dominance from Pacific Games associations (PGA's). Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Fiji have all ranked first a record 3 times, with Samoa, Nauru, and Tahiti topping the games once.

Concept

Following the success of the main Pacific Games, the Pacific Games council decided to create a smaller version of the games to enable smaller nations and territories to host events and compete against each other. From this came the Pacific Mini Games.

Pacific Games Council

Main article: Pacific Games#Council

The governing body for the mini games is the Pacific Games Council. Much like the main games, the Games council flag is presented to the host nation of the next mini games at the end of every games. As of 2017, the council has 22 member nations.

Two other nations, Australia and New Zealand, are not members of the council but are invited as observers to the council's general assembly. These nations participated at the mini games in 2017 and made their main games debut in 2015.

Editions

|lat=-9.444589|long=159.972258|label=1981}} |lat=-21.233333|long=-159.783333|label=1985, 2009, 2029}} |lat=-21.133333|long=-175.2|label=1989}} |lat=-17.733333|long=168.316667|label=1993, 2017}} |lat=-14.279444|long=-170.700556|label=1997}} |lat=-29.05|long=167.966667|label=2001}} |lat=7.34222|long=134.47719|label=2005, 2025}} |lat=-13.283333|long=-176.183333|label=2013}} |lat=15.183333|long=145.75|label=2022}}

List of Pacific Mini Games

::data[format=table] | Games | No. | Host | Games dates / Opened by | Sports | Competitors | Events | Nations | Top nation | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1981 | | SOL Honiara | 8 – 16 July 1981 Unknown | 5 | +600 | 51 | 15 | NCL New Caledonia | | 1985 | | COK Rarotonga | 31 July – 9 August 1985 Unknown | 6 | 700 | 56 | 16 | PNG | | 1989 | | TGA Nuku'alofa | 22 August – 1 September 1989 King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV | 6 | 832 | 93 | 16 | WSM | | 1993 | | VAN Port Vila | 6 – 16 December 1993 Unknown | 6 | | 67 | 15 | FIJ | | 1997 | | ASA Pago Pago | 11 – 22 August 1997 Unknown | 11 | 1798 | 144 | 19 | NRU | | 2001 | | NFK Kingston | 3 – 14 December 2001 Unknown | 10 | | 97 | 18 | FIJ | | 2005 | | PLW Koror | 25 July – 4 August 2005 President Thomas Remengesau Jr. | 12 | | 170 | 20 | New Caledonia Sports Flag.svg New Caledonia | | 2009 | | COK Rarotonga | 21 September – 2 October 2009 Queen's Rep Sir Frederick Goodwin | 15 | +1354 | 144 | 21 | FIJ | | 2013 | | WLF Mata Utu | 2 – 12 September 2013 French President François Hollande | 8 | | 127 | 22 | PNG | | 2017 | | VAN Port Vila | 5 – 15 December 2017 President Tallis Obed Moses | 14 | ~2000 | 173 | 23+1 | New Caledonia Sports Flag.svg New Caledonia | | 2022 | | NMI Saipan | 17 – 25 June 2022 Governor Ralph Torres | 9 | 1034 | 144 | 19 | PNG | | 2025 | | PLW Koror | 29 June – 9 July 2025 President Surangel Whipps Jr. | 12 | ~2000 | 236 | 23 | TAH | | 2029 | ** | COK Rarotonga | TBA 2029 TBA | 12 | | | 24 (expected) | | ::

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.

Sports

There are 36 approved sports by the Pacific Games Council updated in 2025. Unlike the main games, the Pacific Mini Games does not have a compulsory sports list. However, 50 percent of the sports selected for a games must be from the compulsory sports list of the PGC. After the 2025 Games in Koror, 28 of the 36 sports have been included at the Mini Games since the inaugural edition in 1981.

Listed are sports already contested at the Pacific Mini Games. ::data[format=table]

SportDisciplineCode & PictogramBodyYearsStatusArcheryAthleticsBadmintonBaseball and softballBaseballSoftballBasketball3x3BasketballBodybuildingBoxingFootballGolfJudoKarateLawn bowlsNetballOutrigger canoeingVa'aKayakPowerliftingRugbySevensSailingShootingSquashSwimmingTable tennisTaekwondoTennisTouch rugbyTriathlonVolleyballBeachIndoorWeightliftingWrestlingFreestyleGreco-RomanBeachRugbyUnionRugby leagueSevens
ARC[[File:Archery pictogram.svg17px]]World Archery2001, 2017, 2025
ATH[[File:Athletics pictogram.svg17px]]World Athletics1981–present
BDM[[File:Badminton pictogram.svg17px]]BWF2022
BBL[[File:Baseball pictogram.svg17px]]WBSC{{refngroup=sname=WBSC}}2005, 2022–present
SBL[[File:Softball pictogram.svg17px]]2005, 2025
BK3[[File:3-on-3 basketball pictogram.svg17px]]FIBA2017, 2025
BKB[[File:Basketball pictogram.svg17px]]1997, 2005
BDB[[File:Bodybuilding pictogram.svg17px]]WBPF2001
BOX[[File:Boxing pictogram.svg17px]]World Boxing1981, 1989–1997, 2009, 2017
FBL[[File:Football pictogram.svg17px]]FIFA1981, 1993, 2017
GLF[[File:Golf pictogram.svg17px]]IGF1985–2001, 2009, 2017–2022
JUD[[File:Judo pictogram.svg17px]]IJF2017, 2025
KTE[[File:Karate pictogram.svg17px]]WKF2017
LBW[[File:Lawn bowls pictogram.svg17px]]World Bowls1985, 2001, 2009
NTB[[File:Netball pictogram.svg17px]]World Netball1981–2001, 2009, 2017
VAA[[File:Vaa pictogram.svg17px]]IVF2005–2013, 2022–present
KYK[[File:Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg17px]]2025
PLF[[File:Powerlifting pictogram.svg17px]]IPF1997
RU7[[File:Rugby Sevens pictogram.svg17px]]World Rugby1997, 2009–2017
SAL[[File:Sailing pictogram.svg17px]]World Sailing1997, 2009–2013
SHO[[File:Shooting pictogram.svg17px]]ISSF2001
SQU[[File:Squash pictogram.svg17px]]WSF2001, 2009
SWM[[File:Swimming pictogram.svg17px]]World Aquatics2005, 2025
TTE[[File:Table tennis pictogram.svg17px]]ITTF2005–2009, 2017, 2025
TKW[[File:Taekwondo pictogram.svg17px]]World Taekwondo2013
TEN[[File:Tennis pictogram.svg17px]]ITF1981–2009, 2017–2022
TRU[[File:Rugby league pictogram.svg17px]]FIT2009
TRI[[File:Triathlon pictogram.svg17px]]World Triathlon2001–2009, 2022–present
VBV[[File:Volleyball (beach) pictogram.svg17px]]FIVB2005, 2013–present
VVO[[File:Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg17px]]1997, 2013, 2025
WLF[[File:Weightlifting pictogram.svg17px]]IWF1989, 1997, 2005–present
WRF[[File:Wrestling Freestyle pictogram.svg17px]]UWW2005, 2025
WRG[[File:Wrestling pictogram.svg17px]]2005, 2025
WRB[[File:Beach wrestling pictogram.svg17px]]2025
RUG[[File:Rugby union pictogram.svg17px]]World Rugby1985Discontinued
RL7[[File:Rugby league pictogram.svg17px]]IRL2009Discontinued
::

Participating nations

Only ten teams have attended every Pacific Mini Games: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. This list includes all 22 current PGAs and the two invitational teams, arranged alphabetically. The three-letter country code is also listed for each PGA. Country name changes are explained by footnotes after the nation's name, and other notes are explained by footnotes linked within the table.

Other entries

  • IPA. Athletes from Tahiti competed as Independent Athletes in 2017. No official Tahiti team took part in the 2017 Mini Games following the French Polynesian government's decision to boycott the event. A number of Tahitian athletes competed under the banner of the Pacific Games Council.

Table legend

::data[format=table]

PGA superseded or preceded by other PGA(s) during these years
::

::data[format=table]

PGACode818589939701050913172225TotalOther entriesCode818589939701050913172225Total
ASAASA••••H•••••••12
AUSAUS•••3
COKCOK•H•••••H••••12
FSMFSM••••••••8
FIJFIJ••••••••••••12
PYFPYF••••••••••10
GUMGUM•••••••••••11
KIRKIR••••••••••10
MHLMHL•••••5
NRUNRU•••••••••••11
NCLNCL••••••••••••12
NZLNZL••2
NIUNIU•••••••••9
NFKNFK•••••H••••••12
NMINMI•••••••••H•11
PLWPLW••H••••H8
PNGPNG••••••••••••12
SAMSAM••••••••••••12
SOLSOLH•••••••••••12
TKLTKL••••4
TGATGA••H•••••••••12
TUVTUV••••••6
VANVAN•••H•••••H••12
WLFWLF••••••H•••10
Pacific Logo.svg Independent PGC Athletes [^]IPA^1
::

;Name change notes

;Participation notes |Australia are not a member of the PGC. They compete as invites. |New Zealand are not a member of the PGC. They compete as invites.

All-time medal table

This table shows all medals won by a Pacific Games association since the inaugural games in 1981 to the most recent games held in 2025.

| caption = | host = | flag_template = flagcountry | event = | team = | name_NCL=[[File:New_Caledonia_flags_merged_(2017).svg|23px]] New Caledonia | gold_NCL = 255 | silver_NCL = 204 | bronze_NCL = 162 | gold_PYF = 223 | silver_PYF = 150 | bronze_PYF = 134 | gold_FIJ = 216 | silver_FIJ = 208 | bronze_FIJ = 202 | gold_PNG = 204 | silver_PNG = 216 | bronze_PNG = 189 | gold_SAM = 160 | silver_SAM = 94 | bronze_SAM = 108 | gold_NRU = 69 | silver_NRU = 47 | bronze_NRU = 41 | gold_VAN = 45 | silver_VAN = 64 | bronze_VAN = 64 | gold_COK = 42 | silver_COK = 52 | bronze_COK = 57 | gold_AUS = 40 | silver_AUS = 19 | bronze_AUS = 20 | gold_TGA = 36 | silver_TGA = 49 | bronze_TGA = 81 | gold_ASA = 33 | silver_ASA = 37 | bronze_ASA = 26 | gold_NMI = 30 | silver_NMI = 33 | bronze_NMI = 31 | gold_SOL = 29 | silver_SOL = 79 | bronze_SOL = 66 | gold_KIR = 26 | silver_KIR = 12 | bronze_KIR = 20 | gold_GUM = 23 | silver_GUM = 28 | bronze_GUM = 41 | gold_PLW = 17 | silver_PLW = 18 | bronze_PLW = 25 | gold_WLF = 13 | silver_WLF = 29 | bronze_WLF = 36 | name_WLF = | gold_FSM = 12 | silver_FSM = 8 | bronze_FSM = 8 | gold_MHL = 10 | silver_MHL = 7 | bronze_MHL = 6 | gold_NFK = 7 | silver_NFK = 17 | bronze_NFK = 14 | gold_NZL = 4 | silver_NZL = 10 | bronze_NZL = 4 | gold_TUV = 3 | silver_TUV = 3 | bronze_TUV = 13 | gold_NIU = 2 | silver_NIU = 14 | bronze_NIU = 7 | gold_BBB = 2 | silver_BBB = 1 | bronze_BBB = 0 | name_BBB = Pacific Logo.svg Independent PGC athletes | skip_BBB = yes | gold_TKL = 0 | silver_TKL = 2 | bronze_TKL = 2

References

|date=11 May 2017 |title=Vanuatu committed to 2017 Pacific Mini Games |work=Cook Islands News |url=http://www.cookislandsnews.com/sport/other-sports/item/58302-vanuatu-committed-to-2017-pacific-mini-games/58302-vanuatu-committed-to-2017-pacific-mini-games |access-date=7 October 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007220322/http://www.cookislandsnews.com/sport/other-sports/item/58302-vanuatu-committed-to-2017-pacific-mini-games/58302-vanuatu-committed-to-2017-pacific-mini-games |archive-date=7 October 2017

Sources

  • {{cite report |year= 2007 |title= Charter – Constitution adopted Apia, Samoa 14 May 2006 – Protocols and Regulations adopted by Executive Board on 17th January 2007 and 20th March 2007 |publisher= Pacific Games Council |access-date= 15 May 2015 |format= PDF 0.3 MB |url= http://www.sportingpulse.com/pics/20/02/200259_firstfileFILE.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928015358/http://www.sportingpulse.com/pics/20/02/200259_firstfileFILE.pdf |archive-date= 28 September 2007 |ref=

References

  1. [http://www.cinews.co.ck/local.htm#9 Stadium and China loan on hold] {{Webarchive. link. (8 February 2013 ''Cook Islands News Online'', 12 September 2007)
  2. (11 March 2008). "Stadium for Mini Games in Cooks gets go-ahead". [[Radio New Zealand]].
  3. (1 December 2017). "Tahiti athletes to compete under neutral banner". The Vanuatu Independent.

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