Pacific Games 2019

Fiji claimed the historic inaugural title on Tuesday evening, while Cook Islands beat Samoa 24-10 to collect bronze.

The gold medal match was a tight affair and remained scoreless for much of the first half before Fiji’s Timaima Ravisa scored a breakaway try to give her side a 4-0 lead at the break.

The Youth and Junior Oceania and Commonwealth Championships will also be held in conjunction with the Samoa 2019 competition.

Last time at the Port Moresby 2015 XVI Pacific Games, weightlifting was hotly contested. PNG topped the medal table with 13 golds and a total of 21, closely followed by Samoa with 12 golds and a higher overall total of 23 medals. Australia claimed 29 medals in total, but only 6 golds.

Samoa, PNG and Australia will again be among the teams to watch at Samoa 2019.

There are different local caterers assigned to every venue’s dining halls, including on Savai’i, where Boxing will take place, with test runs of all their menus in preparation when the Games open on Sunday 7 July.

“There are caterers specifically for athletes and Technical Officialsand others for volunteersandVIPs,” said Analosa Manuele, Catering Coordinator of the Pacific Games Office.

“For the Pacific Games, we are working together with the caterers to make sure that the meals provided are hot, fresh, nutritious and safe for consumption.

Representing Vanuatu since the age of 18, she has been collaborating with veteran player and mentor

Miller Pata for the past nine months. Tinny – as she is affectionately known – has competed across

Asia and Australia this year, finishing in the top five in four out of last six FIVB tournaments, one of

which saw the pair win a silver medal in Satun, Thailand.

Toko, who comes from Ambae, one of the northern islands of Vanuatu, initially played indoor volleyball

Chef de Mission, Emma Waiwai, says these athletes are primed, fit and ready to battle it out with the best of the best.

“Four years have seen our athletes sacrifice their comfort zones and their family time to prepare for these games,” Waiwai said at the Team PNG farewell function yesterday evening in Port Moresby.

“Each athlete going is the best for each sport.

“To me to be given the co-captains role alongside Deslyn and Sandra is a big achievement for me,” she said.  

“I am so proud to fly my country’s flag at the Pacific Games and being given the co-captaincy role was something I never expected.

“There were few other senior players in the squad and leading the team ahead of them is challenging for me.”

The Mekeo lass said she has received a lot of support from teammates and officials.

The team will go into camp and select it’s final line-up for the Pacific Games, next month.

Head Coach Jaqua Heddle says the preparation camp gives her an opportunity to see the capabilities for every individual players.

“A squad training camp is an excellent opportunity to experiment with playing combinations, see how players connect with each other and find a good balance. Players also need to make the most of this opportunity and put their best foot forward for final team selection.”

In their preparations for the event from 7-20 July in Samoa, the team is aiming to participate in as many of the 27 sports as it can.

"For starters, as the next host nation, we are doing our best in getting involved with all the 27 sports in the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games. We don’t have shooting due to gun control back home, badminton, squash, lawn bowls and cricket, but all the other sports we are involved with," said Michael Chan, Chef De Mission of the Solomon Islands.

The announcement was made by the Games Organising Committee Chairman, Minister Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio with Farid Mohammed Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Samoa.

“We are honoured to have Digicel Samoa on board as the official sponsor for next year’s games.”

“Digicel’s sponsorship will provide significant support in our efforts to host a remarkable and memorable Pacific Games event.”

The official sponsorship package is valued at $3 Million Tala.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue spent three days in Apia last week meeting with Games staff and checking on the facilities that will play host to more than 4000 athletes and officials in July across 26 sports.

Mr Minogue was pleased with the overall progress being made eight and a half months out from the event but said plans for the athletes to stay in hotels during the two-week event are still to be finalised.

"There's a lot of work that goes into making that happen and that's still ongoing," he said.