2019 Pacific Games

Host selection

First bidding process

In mid 2012, two cities were confirmed as serious bidders in hosting the 2019 Pacific Games. They were:

• TGA Nukuʻalofa, Tonga and
• TAH Papeete, French Polynesia (Tahiti)

The final presentations of the bids were made on 19 October 2012 in Wallis & Futuna. Tahiti's presentation was led by the country's Minister for Education, Youth and Sports, Tauhiti Nena; Tonga's was led by Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, by the President of the Tonga Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee, Lord Tupou, and by Minister for Sports Lord Vaea. Paea Wolfgramm, Tonga's only Olympic medallist at that time (he had won a silver medal in boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics), spoke of the promise of sports development and was the highlight of both presentations. Tonga had never hosted the Games; its bid to host the 2015 Games had been defeated by Papua New Guinea's. Tahiti had hosted the Games twice, in 1971 and 1995.

In its bid, French Polynesia emphasised "its successful experiences of hosting international sporting events". It noted that its planned investments in sports infrastructures would "intensify sport practice of several tens of thousands of citizens and rise to the high-level several hundreds of young Polynesians", and suggested that the Games would "contribute to a better insertion of our country" into the Pacific region, highlighting the positive values of a shared "Polynesian soul".

In his written submission to the Pacific Games Council in April 2012, Tongan Prime Minister Lord Tuʻivakano referred to his country's transition to democracy with the November 2010 general election, and suggested that awarding the Games to Tonga would "send a strong and unmistakable signal in support of democracy in our region". The then-Minister for Sports Sosefo Vakata asked the Council to grant the Games to a country that had not hosted them yet, in the name of equality and so that Tonga might enjoy "the benefits that other bigger economies in the region have enjoyed since the Game’s inception". He also reminded the Council that Tonga had the experience of having hosted the 1989 South Pacific Mini Games, though "nothing can equal the greatest gathering in the region which the Pacific Games is proud of". The country proposed an upgrade of its sports facilities, notably the Teufaiva Stadium for athletics, the Lototonga Football Complex, and the ‘Atele Indoor Stadium to host six sporting events. A new sports complex would be built at Lototonga for a number of other events, as would a Lototonga Aquatic Centre.

Following its successful bid, Tonga hoped for investments to build venues and facilities, particularly from China and Japan.

Tongan withdrawal

On Monday 15 May 2017 the Prime Minister announced that Tonga would withdraw from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games amid concerns the country could face economic difficulties if it staged the event. A spokesman for the Tongan Cabinet told Kaniva News that Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva had decided to save the country from a "costly mistake".

Second bidding process

Following the withdrawal of Tonga as hosts, the Pacific Games Council set a deadline date (31 July 2017) of interested countries that would be willing to replace Tonga. By the 31 July deadline, three countries expressed their interest in hosting the games. They are:

• GUM Guam
• SAM Samoa
• TAH French Polynesia (Tahiti)

Participating countries

Twenty-four nations competed at the 2019 games. Twenty-two Pacific Games Association members sent teams (the full complement of countries and territories), plus Australia and New Zealand.

• American Samoa
• Australia (42)
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• Guam (150)
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• New Caledonia (327)
• New Zealand (55)
• Niue
• Norfolk Island
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea (391)
• Samoa (Host)
• Solomon Islands
• Tahiti
• Tokelau
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Wallis and Futuna

Note: A number in parentheses indicate the size of a country's team (athletes and officials, if known).

Sports

A total of 26 sports were contested at this edition of the games.

• • Basketball (2)
  • 3x3 basketball (2)
• • Volleyball (2)
  • Beach volleyball (2)

Medal table

The medal tally of the 2019 Pacific Games:

Calendar

The following table provides a summary of the competition schedule.

Notes

Australia sent a team of 42 athletes.

Guam: A team of 150 athletes and staff was sent to represent the territory in eleven disciplines at the games.{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627154410/https://www.postguam.com/sports/local/guam-set-for-pacific-games-in-samoa/article_2c03f5fa-98a7-11e9-af1a-3f23167b1f8e.html |archive-date=27 June 2019

New Caledonia sent 327 athletes.

New Zealand sent 55 athletes.

References

References

1. [http://matangitonga.to/2012/10/19/tonga-host-2019-pacific-games "Tonga to host 2019 Pacific Games"], ''[[Matangi Tonga]]'', 19 October 2012
2. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-2642-0-0-0&sID=24021&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=10142202&sectionID=24021 "PNG2015 - PAPUA NEW GUINEA WINS"], Pacific Games Council, 1 April 2011
3. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/get_file.cgi?id=1754046 French Polynesian bid for the 2019 Games], Pacific Games Council
4. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/get_file.cgi?id=1754050 Tongan bid for the 2019 Games], Pacific Games Council
5. [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/tonga-to-host-2019-pacific-games/1033338?autoplay=1033314 "Tonga to host 2019 Pacific Games"], [[ABC Radio Australia]], 19 October 2012
6. (16 May 2017). "Tonga withdraws from hosting 2019 Pacific Games over costs". Stuff (Fairfax Media).
7. (15 May 2017). "Tonga withdraws from hosting 2019 Pacific Games". insidethegames.biz.
8. "Samoa, Guam, Tahiti confirmed as bidders for 2019 Pacific Games - Pacific Beat - ABC Radio Australia".
9. (18 December 2017). "Samoa confident of hosting a successful 2019 Pacific Games".
10. (11 June 2018). "2019 Pacific Games program confirmed".
11. (7 June 2019). "Australian team announced for 2019 Pacific Games".
12. (14 June 2019). "Liste des athlètes sélectionnés dans l'équipe de Nouvelle-Calédonie".
13. (19 March 2019). "New Zealand team announced for 2019 Pacific Games".