Pacific Mini Games

280 athletes to represent Vanuatu

During the parade held this week, the Vanuatu Chef de Mission and CEO of Vanuatu Olympic Committee, Vasanoc, Henry Tavoa, confirmed that Vanuatu is participating at the games with 280 athletes

He said efforts, sacrifices and will has been given to ensure Vanuatu give the best team for this event

The parade was held across the main street of Port-Vila where athletes have showcased themselves

Tavoa asked for the support of everyone to encourage and support Team Vanuatu during the event

Footballers to kick off Vanuatu Pacific Mini Games

Men's football is the first of 14 sports to kick off in Port Vila.

Fiji are first up against Tuvalu at midday local time followed by Tonga versus Solomon Islands and New Caledonia against the host nation.

Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said a late rejig was made to the draw following Tahiti's decision to boycott the Games.

"The tournament basically follows a format where the gold medal will be won by the total number of points by the team at the end."

Tahiti athletes to compete under neutral banner

The government withdrew their support following a disagreement over who should represent Tahiti in boxing and rugby sevens in Vanuatu.

The Pacific Games Council's Chief Executive, Andrew Minogue, said a four-member boxing team have confirmed their attendance while the rugby sevens side was also down to compete.

He said all other sports have chosen not to participate in Port Vila, because of the government boycott, so the Council's Executive Board had ruled

Vanuatu table tennis aims for 7 gold medals

The Table Tennis Interim-President, James Malao, says that for this year’s Mini Games, the final team will be finalized this week, with last weekend’s test event showing how the players have been contributing in their training sessions, attendance, characters and their performance.

“In the meantime, we are having our three para table tennis players, they were the finalist, but for the table tennis, there are going to be eight finalists that will later be announced.

Beach volleyball gets locals excited ahead of Van2017

The matches played at the Van2017 Test Event day at the weekend showed that Vanuatu Beach Volleyball is prepped and ready for these Pacific Mini Games.

With the National Men’s team competing in Australia this week, the trial event matches were performed by VBF league players.

“Trial matches are being performed by the league players, who are players not selected to be in the team to perform at the Games,” said Debbie Masauvakalo, the President of the Vanuatu Beach Volleyball Federation.

“The selected team is in Sydney at the moment for the FYVB world tour events.”

Archery on target for the games

The Vanuatu Archery team has made it through six months of training in China, making sure each athlete has reached their very best potential to achieve the goal of making their country proud at the upcoming Vanuatu Pacific Mini Games.

In the Team Vanuatu, there are Nine athletes – three women and six men – who will be competing in two categories within the sport which are Recurve and Compound.

Vanuatu Government hands over 23 buses for the Pacific Mini Games

In a formal ceremony, Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said that transport is a critical component in the organization of the Games.

“I thank the Government of Vanuatu for supporting the Games; it’s been six years that the people of Vanuatu have been waiting for this Games and now time is very short, as we have to go operational next week.   

Vanuatu ready to host Pacific Mini Games

Pacific Games Council CEO Clint Flood says schools have been fitted with 1,600 beds, chefs are on standby to cook for up to 1,000 people a day and China has provided 25 buses for transportation.

Flood says it is also symbolic that the Queen's Baton Relay carrying the Queen's message for the Commonwealth Games will pass through the Pacific Mini Games.

Pacific Mini Games hold test events

Netball, tennis, ​table​ ​tennis, ​ beach​ ​volleyball, ​archery,​ boxing​ ​and​ ​karate are all on the schedule at the Korman Stadium.​

Other​ ​activities​ on offer during the day ​include​ ​a​ ​mini​ ​kids​ ​fun​ ​zone, ​ giveaways and​ ​prizes, ​ ​food stalls​ ​and​ a ​chance​ ​to​ ​meet​ the Games' mascots, while a music festival will take place in the evening.

Team Tonga waiting on govt to pay for Mini Games flight

Team Tonga Chef de Mission 'Amanaki Fakakovikaetau, who is also a member of TASANOC's Executive Committee, said the government only told them last Wednesday it would pay for the flight, which is scheduled to leave on Thursday.

He said the original payment deadline from Air Vanuatu has since passed but the airline have kept the door open while they wait to hear from the government.

"But they've also been negotiating how we're going to do this payment and we're still waiting for the confirmation and the letter from government that they are going to do that," he said.