2023 Pacific Games: Five fun facts about the Pacific Games
Ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, we take a look back at some of the event's most historic moments including underwater fishing and a 63-year-old athletics and canoe star!
The Pacific Games has witnessed some memorable performances since the event's first iteration - called the South Pacific Games - in 1963.
The latest edition, the Sol2023 Pacific Games, will be held in the Solomon Islands from 19 November to 2 December.
Approximately 400 athletes from 24 nations will be competing across 24 sports, with direct quota spots for qualification to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 available in archery and boxing.
Below, we take a look at some fun facts and figures about the continental event's past.
1 - Nono Tani begins the Pacific Games
A tennis ball served by Cook Islands player Nono Tani at 9am on 29 August 1963 marked the beginning of what was then called the South Pacific Games.
The maiden tournament was hosted in Fiji with almost 700 competitors from thirteen Pacific islands taking part in 10 sports.
Local hero Merewai Turukawa etched her name in history by becoming the first-ever continental gold medallist when she won the women’s shot put .
However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the participants, as the 1963 Pacific Games also witnessed two bone fractures, one in boxing and the other in football.
2 - Anyone for underwater fishing?
The Pacific islands are known for their rich marine life, which helps to explain why there was an underwater fishing competition at four editions of the Games: in 1971, 1975, 1995, and 1999.
The sport involved athletes wearing snorkels using different breathing, searching, and approaching techniques, as well as a specialised weapon, to hunt fish.
The athletes would also need a deep knowledge regarding the species of fish to be caught, their sizes and any legal restrictions.
The only other sport that appeared on the Pacific Games programme and has since been discarded is 15-a-side rugby union, which has been replaced by rugby sevens.
3 - Bodybuilding and billiards at the Pacific Games
The Pacific Games has a cap of 24 sports in each edition comprising 17 'core' sports plus up to seven from 20 optional sports.
The optional sports are selected by the host nation's organising committee for each edition.
One of the more unique options is bodybuilding, which took place in 1995, 2003, 2015, and will be on the programme again in 2023.
Papua New Guinea were the team to beat in 2015, muscling their way to 10 bodybuilding medals overall, including five golds.
Unfortunately, Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua, who has appeared bare-chested at three Olympic opening ceremonies, won’t be competing as he focuses on kayaking and taekwondo ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Billiards, handball, and snooker are also listed as optional sports for the Pacific Games, but no host nation has selected them as yet.
4 - Two sprinting legends: Banuve Tabakaucoro and Toea Wisil
The 100m race in athletics is often seen as the blue-ribbon event at a continental games, and Banuve Tabakaucoro was the king of men's Pacific Games sprinting.
The Fijian athlete holds the record for the fastest time ever recorded by a Pacific Islander over the distance, clocking in at 10.20 seconds. He achieved this milestone on his home track in Suva during the Melanesian Regional Championships in July 2016.
In Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games competitions (including relays) he has won 15 gold and five silver medals to date, including the 100m/200m double three Pacific Games in a row (2011, 2015, and 2019).
Had the "Bau Bullet" not had a short stint as a rugby player, he would likely have won more before he retired in August this year.
On the women’s side, Papua New Guinea’s Toea Wisil won the 100m, 200m and 400m at the last three Pacific Games, but is sitting out the 2023 Games.
Toea Wisil of Papula New Guinea will not compete in the 2023 Pacific Games, having dominated the 100m, 200m and 400m for the past three editions.
5 - Salome Tabuatalei: A true Pacific Games legend still competing
A Pacific Games legend in Fiji’s 63-year-old Salome Tabuatalei will compete once more in 2023.
The 2022 Fiji Sports Hall of Fame inductee has been named to her nation’s 26-person canoe Va’a team.
Tabuatalei first represented her nation at the Pacific Games in 1995 in athletics, winning the 800m in a record that stood until 2019.
The Wailevu native then switched to the canoe in 2005, and holds national canoe records in the 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and half marathon events.
She initially revealed that the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa would be her swansong, but couldn't resist one more Games.