Let the Games Begin, Samoa’s Big Event.

Continuing one of the great sporting traditions of the Pacific region, Samoa will welcome competitors from 24 different countries when it hosts the 16th Pacific Games in July this year. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the people of Samoa to observe and celebrate the achievements of the men and women from across the Pacific Islands who have the confidence and dedication to represent their country in this exciting event. Samoans are passionate about sport and are sure to be a welcoming and enthusiastic audience.

Organised in less than two years, the event has come together because of the generosity of a number of sponsors who are invested in the future success of Samoa. Due to the generous support of the main sponsor, Digicel, the gold sponsor, Samoa Shipping, and the silver sponsors, Samoa Stationery and Books, Fexco, Apia Insurance and the Samoa Port Authority, this is sure to be an impressive event.

Apia Park Stadium will host the entertainment for the opening ceremony on July 7 which is being organised by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture. Dozens of local school students will be performing for international guests; a wonderful opportunity for them to demonstrate their exceptional talents.

The closing ceremony at Apia Park Stadium on July 20 will also give participants and spectators an opportunity to see the finest performances of Samoan school students.

Over all, 24 teams will be coming from all over the Pacific to compete this year. Expect to see competitors from Australia, the Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Island, Norfolk Island, Palau, PNG, Samoa, American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the territory of Wallis and Futuna. 

There will be 27 different sports played at 19 different venues, both indoor and outdoor,  around Apia and Savai’i. Owners and venue operators across the country have worked tirelessly to prepare the sporting venues for the Games. 

Apia Park will host rugby and athletics; tennis competitions will be at the Apia Park Tennis Courts. Volleyball will be on the Apia Waterfront and at the National University of Samoa. Swimming races will be held mainly at the Faleata Aquatic Complex. Outside on the Faleata Sports Complex Ovals is where cricket, football, touch rugby, archery and lawn bowls will be played. 

Inside the complex, the gym will host judo, taekwondo, squash, table tennis, powerlifting, weightlifting, basketball, badminton and netball games. Sogi Recreational Park is the location for the triathlon. 

The Fagali’i Royal Samoa Golf course will host the golf competition, and at the Mulifanua Sheraton Beach Resort there will be more swimming competitions, sailing and Va’a (sea vessels/rowing). The shooting competition will be at the Tafaigata Shooting Range at the Faleata Sports Complex. 

For boxing, spectators will need to get over to Savai’i to see the fights at Don Bosco College.

This is the third time the Pacific Games have been held in Samoa and this time the Games Office is working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) to ensure that the Games are as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. Green and reusable products will be provided for use as alternatives to single use plastics. Portable water stations will also be set up at venues so that people can fill their drink bottles rather than having to buy water in bottles and there will be reusable bottles and cups available. 

Competitors in the 2019 XVI Pacific Games have been training extensively in the lead up to this event. Their sporting prowess and determined spirits will be celebrated by all of the countries in the region. The organising committee promises that there will be drama, excitement, entertainment and joy when the XVI Pacific Games commence in July.

Tickets will be available on the website:
www.samoa2019.ws.