2017 Pacific Mini Games

It is a discipline that celebrates the strength and athleticism of women in sport.

While PNG Pepes won the gold medal at the VAN2017 Games, netball featured two dual national athletes from Vanuatu.

Meriel Kenni and Selina Solman are both Vanuatu national cricketers who made their debut in the national netball team, making them two of the few athletes from Vanuatu who are dual-national sport representatives.

Papua New Guinea still maintains the lead with 14 gold medals, followed closely by Samoa with 13.

Papua New Guinea still maintains a strong lead with 14 gold medals, followed a few paces back by Fiji with 9 gold medals.

Samoa is currently breathing down Fiji’s back with 8 gold medals whilst New Caledonia is sitting on fourth spot with 5 gold medals, followed closely by Solomon Islands with 4 gold medals.

A total of 10 teams are entered into the tournament—6 men’s and 4 women’s. 

The format will be a round robin, total point tournament.  This means that the suspense will build throughout the Games, with all the teams having a chance on the final day to win a medal.

Teams include:

• Mens—Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, FIJI, Tonga, Tuvalu
• Womens- Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga

The Games will be played at both the new Korman Complex as well as the Port Vila Municipal Stadium.

Ian Jonathan Basckin, from Australia, was appointed as the Technical Delegate Karate for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games by Oceania Karate Federation.

During his visit to Port Vila, Mr Basckin was delighted to meet and make new friends in karate, where he was able to share his eight years of experience in the sport. He said while he is not participating at all, he is involved in it as a passion.

“We have 15 Sport Specific Volunteers in karate for the Mini Games, and I want to teach them - not use them, but teach them - to become Vanuatu officials in the future,” he said.

24 Countries are sending in excess of 1500 Athletes to compete in 13 sports and up for grabs are 1100 medals.

“The medals that will be won here at the 2017 Pacific   Mini Games are the pinnacle of sport for many athletes and we want the medals to be a reminder for years to come of the joy and pride that the medal brought to the athlete, their families, their team mates and indeed their country,” said Van2017 CEO Clint Flood

Games organisers Van2017, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, the Sports Commission of Vanuatu and VASANOC, have begun discussions to ensure the venues will be well managed and maintained once the Mini Games conclude in December.

RNZ reports Larry Sengstock from Otium Planning Group in Melbourne spent six days in Port Vila meeting with various officials and talking with the Sports Commission about the process and key elements of a business plan.

Mr Sengstock also worked with the PNG Government following the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

The Van2017 Organising Committee was forced to postpone major initiatives, including this week's scheduled official sponsorship announcements, due to the lack of support and active disruptions from some elements within the government.

The Pacific Games Council said over the past three months the VAN2017 team has been doing an excellent job in making up for many years of lost time, engaging commercial sponsors, sports federations, athletes and the Vanuatu public.

RNZ reports yesterday marked one year until the scheduled start of the Games in Port Vila.

The construction of the main Korman complex had suffered a series of delays since Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu in March last year.

The CEO of Van2017 organising committee, Clint Flood, said they would like to be further along in their plans but good progress is being made.