2007 Pacific Games
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Pacific Games were held in Apia, Samoa
, from 25 August to 8 September, 2007. The Games were also known as the XIII South Pacific Games.
The Games were the thirteenth Pacific Games to be held since the event's inception in 1963 and included traditional multi-sport event
disciplines, such as athletics and swimming
, alongside region-specific and smaller events such as outrigger canoe
ing, surfing
and lawn bowls. The principal venue for the Games was Apia Park
, with other events taking place at the Faleata Sporting Complex
and at other locations around Samoa.
In comparison to the Olympic Games
, which are expected to generate income for the host nation, the 2007 Pacific Games are expected to leave Samoa US$92 million in debt
, predominantly as a result of expenditure on large-scale infrastructure projects
such as bridges and roads.
took place on 25 August 2007 at Apia Park Stadium and was performed in a traditional Samoan and Pacific style, welcoming some 5,000 athletes from 22 nations and territories to Samoa.
The ceremony was attended by Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
, Prime Minister of Samoa (who also competed in the Games - see below), and Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Head of State. Choreographed by Samoan contemporary dancer Alan Aiolupotea the ceremony featured dancing portraying the "mystical legends" from Samoa's island heritage (such as the stories of Sina and her Eel and Nafanua
) with a five-year old female fire dancer
from Siumu Village
performing a siva afi (or fire stick dance) accompanied by a Samoan song depicting the flow of lava following the 1905 eruptions near Savai'i
being one of the showcase displays.
Former New Zealand Idol
winner Rosita Vai
sang an accompaniment to the torch
lighting of the ceremonial flame by Ofisa Ofisa
, a Samoan weightlifter.
Following a rest day on Sunday, the sporting events of the Games began on Monday, 27 August.
. In participating in the Games, the Prime Minister became the first elected leader to represent his country at a multi-sport event
.
Having taken up the sport only 5 months prior to the Games, Tuilaepa was ranked second in Samoa in the combined bow discipline. The Prime Minister's son was also a reserve team member.
On day 10 of the Games, Tuilaepa won a silver medal
in the mixed recurve
team play event.
The decathlon
was reduced to eight disciplines due to a shortage of equipment. The poles for the pole vault
were still in Melbourne
after the ship due to deliver them was delayed by poor weather and the high jump
was the discipline cancelled to allow the event to comply with IAAF regulations (there is no IAAF-sanctioned nine discipline event). In addition, the 1500 metre race was reduced to 1 km. The women's 400 metre hurdles and men's discus
were also affected.
The lack of funding and facilities for drug testing also restricted the ability of Games authorities to run a full drug testing and anti-doping
programme at the Games. Only one hundred athletes (primarily in high-risk events such as bodybuilding
and weightlifting
) were due to be tested as samples needed to be flown overseas from Samoa to be processed at a cost of A$
500 per sample.
Fireworks
due to feature in the Closing Ceremony also remained in Melbourne after difficulties transporting them by ship to Samoa.
) and other participants resulted in several controversial decisions during the organisation and running of the Games.
Athletes in the women's beach volleyball
event were required to wear shorts and t-shirts as opposed to the regulation bikini
-style outfits to avoid offending family members and other spectators.
A leaked internal memo by Team Samoa
authorities was circulated prior to the event warning Samoan athletes not to engage in homosexual intercourse
declaring it as "ungodly", stating: "do not embarrass yourself, your family and your country by trying this in the village...Best not to even think about this. It's against the law of God!" Such activity is prohibited under Samoan law and punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. However the ban on homosexual intercourse was later lifted by organising committee chairman Tapasu Lueng Wai.
A campaign to issue athletes condoms and advice on sexually transmitted infections also met with resistance from religious leaders. The Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Alapati Mataeliga suggested that, in doing so, the authorities were encouraging extra-marital sexual activity
which was frowned upon by the church. Games authorities also back-tracked on plans to issue athletes with female condom
s after fears it might "expose young athletes to sex." Male condoms were nevertheless distributed.
s were released in the colours of the Games flag which was itself duly lowered and the ceremonial flame
extinguished.
The flag was then passed to New Caledonia
delegates, supported by a Kanak cultural group, ahead of the 2011 Pacific Games
in Noumea
.
at Tuana'imato however many Samoans feared the size of the complex and other construction would lead to the venues becoming significant white elephant
s after the Games were over.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
, from 25 August to 8 September, 2007. The Games were also known as the XIII South Pacific Games.
The Games were the thirteenth Pacific Games to be held since the event's inception in 1963 and included traditional multi-sport event
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
disciplines, such as athletics and swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, alongside region-specific and smaller events such as outrigger canoe
Outrigger canoe
The outrigger canoe is a type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull...
ing, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and lawn bowls. The principal venue for the Games was Apia Park
Apia Park
Apia Park is a multi-function sports complex located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Primarily used for rugby union events, Apia Park is the home stadium of the Samoa national rugby union team, Manu Samoa....
, with other events taking place at the Faleata Sporting Complex
Tuanaimato
Tuanaimato is a geographical area near Apia, Samoa.It is the site of the one hundred acre Faleata Sporting Complex which houses, among other facilities, a 12,000 seater soccer stadium , a baseball stadium, hockey fields and an 'aquatic centre' .The Tuanaimato area was also...
and at other locations around Samoa.
In comparison to the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, which are expected to generate income for the host nation, the 2007 Pacific Games are expected to leave Samoa US$92 million in debt
Government debt
Government debt is money owed by a central government. In the US, "government debt" may also refer to the debt of a municipal or local government...
, predominantly as a result of expenditure on large-scale infrastructure projects
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
such as bridges and roads.
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremonyOpening ceremony
An opening ceremony is the official opening of a building or event. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are huge events involving thousands of participants and watched by a massive worldwide audience. On a much smaller scale, some ceremonies mark the opening of a...
took place on 25 August 2007 at Apia Park Stadium and was performed in a traditional Samoan and Pacific style, welcoming some 5,000 athletes from 22 nations and territories to Samoa.
The ceremony was attended by Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi
Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi is a Samoan politician who has been Prime Minister of Samoa since 1998.-Biography:Born at Lepa, Samoa, Malielegaoi is an economist by profession...
, Prime Minister of Samoa (who also competed in the Games - see below), and Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, Head of State. Choreographed by Samoan contemporary dancer Alan Aiolupotea the ceremony featured dancing portraying the "mystical legends" from Samoa's island heritage (such as the stories of Sina and her Eel and Nafanua
Nafanua
Nafanua is the name of the revered Goddess of War in Samoa and a deity in Polynesian Mythology.According to Samoan mythology, Nafanua was the daughter of Saveasi'uleo, the God of Pulotu, Samoa's spirit world. In one legend, Nafanua's mother was Tilafaiga the sister of Taema.-Background:Nafanua is a...
) with a five-year old female fire dancer
Fire dancing
Fire dancing is a group of performance arts or disciplines that involve manipulation of objects on fire...
from Siumu Village
Siumu
Siumu is a village on the central south coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The population is 1,092 .There is also a sub-village Siumu Uta which has a population of 206 .-Siumu Electoral Constituency:...
performing a siva afi (or fire stick dance) accompanied by a Samoan song depicting the flow of lava following the 1905 eruptions near Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
being one of the showcase displays.
Former New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
winner Rosita Vai
Rosita Vai
Rosita Vai is a New Zealand R&B singer who rose to musical fame as the winner of the Second season of New Zealand Idol in 2005.Prior to her win, Rosita managed to stay out of the 'bottom three' contestants for the entire competition...
sang an accompaniment to the torch
Torch
A torch is a fire source, usually a rod-shaped piece of wood with a rag soaked in pitch and/or some other flammable material wrapped around one end. Torches were often supported in sconces by brackets high up on walls, to throw light over corridors in stone structures such as castles or crypts...
lighting of the ceremonial flame by Ofisa Ofisa
Ofisa Ofisa
Ofisa Ofisa , also known as Ofisa Junior Asiata, is a Samoan Oceania and South Pacific Games Champion in weightlifting and powerlifting....
, a Samoan weightlifter.
Following a rest day on Sunday, the sporting events of the Games began on Monday, 27 August.
Participation by Samoan Prime Minister
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi competed for his country at the Games in the sport of target archeryTarget archery
Modern competitive archery is governed by the World Archery Federation, abbreviated WA . Olympic rules are derived from WA rules. WA is the International Olympic Committee's recognized governing body for all of archery.Currently 142 nations are represented by WA archery governing bodies...
. In participating in the Games, the Prime Minister became the first elected leader to represent his country at a multi-sport event
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
.
Having taken up the sport only 5 months prior to the Games, Tuilaepa was ranked second in Samoa in the combined bow discipline. The Prime Minister's son was also a reserve team member.
On day 10 of the Games, Tuilaepa won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in the mixed recurve
Recurve bow
In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer...
team play event.
Logistical problems
Problems with equipment and the lack of multi-sport event infrastructures within the region created difficulties throughout the Games.The decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
was reduced to eight disciplines due to a shortage of equipment. The poles for the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
were still in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
after the ship due to deliver them was delayed by poor weather and the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
was the discipline cancelled to allow the event to comply with IAAF regulations (there is no IAAF-sanctioned nine discipline event). In addition, the 1500 metre race was reduced to 1 km. The women's 400 metre hurdles and men's discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
were also affected.
The lack of funding and facilities for drug testing also restricted the ability of Games authorities to run a full drug testing and anti-doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
programme at the Games. Only one hundred athletes (primarily in high-risk events such as bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
and weightlifting
Powerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
) were due to be tested as samples needed to be flown overseas from Samoa to be processed at a cost of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
500 per sample.
Fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
due to feature in the Closing Ceremony also remained in Melbourne after difficulties transporting them by ship to Samoa.
Religious controversies
The religious sensitivities of the host nation (which is primarily Congregationalist ChristianCongregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
) and other participants resulted in several controversial decisions during the organisation and running of the Games.
Athletes in the women's beach volleyball
Beach volleyball
Beach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
event were required to wear shorts and t-shirts as opposed to the regulation bikini
Bikini
The bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
-style outfits to avoid offending family members and other spectators.
A leaked internal memo by Team Samoa
Sport in Samoa
The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union and kilikiti.-Rugby union:Rugby union is very popular in Samoa and the national team nicknamed the 'Manu' Samoa, is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations...
authorities was circulated prior to the event warning Samoan athletes not to engage in homosexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
declaring it as "ungodly", stating: "do not embarrass yourself, your family and your country by trying this in the village...Best not to even think about this. It's against the law of God!" Such activity is prohibited under Samoan law and punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. However the ban on homosexual intercourse was later lifted by organising committee chairman Tapasu Lueng Wai.
A campaign to issue athletes condoms and advice on sexually transmitted infections also met with resistance from religious leaders. The Archbishop of the Catholic Church in Samoa, Alapati Mataeliga suggested that, in doing so, the authorities were encouraging extra-marital sexual activity
Extramarital sex
Extramarital sex occurs when a married person engages in sexual activity with someone other than his or her marriage partner.Where extramarital sexual relations breach a sexual norm it may also be referred to as adultery, fornication, philandery, or infidelity...
which was frowned upon by the church. Games authorities also back-tracked on plans to issue athletes with female condom
Female condom
A female condom is a device that is used during sexual intercourse as a barrier contraceptive and to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy...
s after fears it might "expose young athletes to sex." Male condoms were nevertheless distributed.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony for the Games again took place at Apia Park. Attended by some 20,000 spectators, a twelve minute fireworks display brought proceedings to an end before hundreds of balloonBalloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
s were released in the colours of the Games flag which was itself duly lowered and the ceremonial flame
Eternal flame
An eternal flame is a flame or torch that burns day and night for an indefinite period. The flame that burned constantly at Delphi was an archaic feature, "alien to the ordinary Greek temple"....
extinguished.
The flag was then passed to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
delegates, supported by a Kanak cultural group, ahead of the 2011 Pacific Games
2011 Pacific Games
The 2011 Pacific Games took place in Nouméa, New Caledonia, from August 27 to September 10, 2011. Nouméa was the 14th host of the Pacific Games...
in Noumea
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
.
Final Medal Table
| 1 | New Caledonia New Caledonia New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of... |
90 | 69 | 68 | 227 |
| 2 | 44 | 43 | 31 | 118 | |
| 3 |  Samoa |
43 | 33 | 50 | 126 |
| 4 |  Fiji |
39 | 54 | 43 | 136 |
| 5 |  Papua New Guinea |
38 | 24 | 32 | 94 |
| 6 |  Nauru |
15 | 9 | 12 | 36 |
| 7 |  Palau |
9 | 4 | 3 | 16 |
| 8 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 | |
| 9 |  Cook Islands |
5 | 9 | 8 | 22 |
| 10 |  Tonga |
3 | 14 | 10 | 27 |
| 11 |  American Samoa |
3 | 8 | 11 | 22 |
| 12 |  Tokelau |
3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 |  Wallis and Futuna |
3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 14 |  Vanuatu |
2 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| 15 |  Solomon Islands |
1 | 12 | 14 | 27 |
| 16 |  Guam |
1 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
| 17 |  Kiribati |
0 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 18 |  Marshall Islands |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Tuvalu |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
 Niue |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 21 |  Norfolk Island |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 |  Northern Mariana Islands |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sports
- ArcheryArcheryArchery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
- Athletics
- BadmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
- BaseballBaseball at the 2007 South Pacific GamesBaseball at the 2007 South Pacific Games was contested by five teams. Palau won the gold medal, New Caledonia won the silver, American Samoa won the bronze...
- BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
- Beach VolleyballBeach volleyballBeach volleyball, or sand volleyball, is an Olympic team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net.Like volleyball, the object of the game is to send the ball over the net in order to ground it on the opponent’s court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent....
- BodybuildingBodybuildingBodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
- BoxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
- CricketCricket at the 2007 South Pacific GamesCricket at the 2007 South Pacific Games was contested by five teams. Papua New Guinea won the gold medal, Fiji won the silver, and Samoa won the bronze. Tonga and New Caledonia were the other participating nations.-Tournament:...
- FootballFootball at the 2007 South Pacific GamesThe 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification...
, (Preliminary Qualification for OFC Nations CupOFC Nations CupThe OFC Nations Cup is an international association football tournament held among the Oceania Football Confederation member nations. It was held every two years from 1996 to 2004; before 1996 there were two other tournaments held at irregular intervals, under the name Oceania Nations Cup...
and FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
) - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- HockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
- JudoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
- Lawn Bowls
- NetballNetballNetball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
- Outrigger CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, see CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'.... - PowerliftingPowerliftingPowerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
- Rugby league ninesRugby league ninesRugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
- Rugby sevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
- SailingSailingSailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
- ShootingShootingShooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
- SoftballSoftballSoftball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
- SquashSquash (sport)Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
- SurfingSurfingSurfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
- SwimmingSwimming at the 2007 South Pacific GamesThe swimming competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa was held:*pool: August 27-September 1 at the Samoa Aquatic Centre in the Faleata Sports Complex; and...
- Table TennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
- TaekwondoTaekwondoTaekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- Touch RugbyTouch rugbyTouch rugby, Refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle in the traditional, highly physical way, but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball....
- TriathlonTriathlonA triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- WeightliftingPowerliftingPowerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
- WrestlingAmateur wrestlingAmateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
Venues
A significant amount of the pre-Games expenditure was spent on building new facilities and upgrading those already in existence in Samoa. The majority of the new facilities were sited at the Faleata Sports ComplexTuanaimato
Tuanaimato is a geographical area near Apia, Samoa.It is the site of the one hundred acre Faleata Sporting Complex which houses, among other facilities, a 12,000 seater soccer stadium , a baseball stadium, hockey fields and an 'aquatic centre' .The Tuanaimato area was also...
at Tuana'imato however many Samoans feared the size of the complex and other construction would lead to the venues becoming significant white elephant
White elephant
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth...
s after the Games were over.
- Aganoa BeachAganoa BeachAganoa Beach is situated on the east coast of Savai'i island in Samoa. The waters off the beach are a known surf reef break in the region and were the venue for the surfing competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games. The left and right breaks are paddling distance from the beach.There are beach...
- Surfing - Apia ParkApia ParkApia Park is a multi-function sports complex located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Primarily used for rugby union events, Apia Park is the home stadium of the Samoa national rugby union team, Manu Samoa....
Sports Complex
-
- Gymnasium - Table Tennis and Badminton
- Stadium - Athletics, Rugby Union and Touch Football
- Netball Courts - Netball
- Tennis Courts - Tennis
- Fagalii - Royal Samoa Golf Course - Golf
- Faleata Sports Complex
- Samoa Aquatic Centre - Swimming
- Archery Field - Archery
- Baseball Field - Baseball
- Beach Volleyball Courts - Beach Volleyball
- Toleafoa S. Blatter StadiumNational Soccer Stadium (Samoa)The National Soccer Stadium, also known as the Toleafoa J. S. Blatter Soccer Stadium, is a football stadium located in Apia, Samoa. It is the national stadium of Samoa and the home of the Samoa national football team. The stadium's capacity is around 3,500....
- Soccer - Cricket ovals - Cricket
- Gymnasium 1 - Boxing, Weightlifting, Body Building
- Gymnasium 2 - Squash and Basketball
- Hockey Fields - Hockey
- Sports Centre - Judo, Taekwondo, Power Lifting, Wrestling
- Lawn Bowls Centre - Lawn Bowls
- Squash Courts - Squash
- Samoa Turf Club - Softball
- Marist StadiumMarist StadiumThe Marist St. Joseph's Stadium is a sports stadium in Lotopa, Samoa.Named after the Marist Brothers who brought rugby union to Western Samoa in 1920, the 4,000 capacity stadium was the venue for, amongst others, the rugby league 9's competition at the 2007 South Pacific Games and the International...
- Rugby League - MulifanuaMulifanuaMulifanua is a village on the north-western tip of the island of Upolu, in Samoa. In the modern era, it is the capital of Aiga-i-le-Tai district...
Water Sports - Va'a (Outrigger) CanoeingOutrigger canoeThe outrigger canoe is a type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull...
; Sailing - Triathlon course - Triathlon
- TafaigataTafaigataTafa'igata is a village in the central region of Upolu island in Samoa. The village population is 527 .Tafa'igata is part of Faleata West Electoral Constituency which forms part of the larger political district of Tuamasaga...
Shooting Range - Shooting - National University of SamoaNational University of SamoaThe National University of Samoa is the only national university in Samoa. Established in 1984 by an act of parliament, the university is coeducational and provides certificate, diploma, and undergraduate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational training. About 2,000 students are...
- Gymnasium - Indoor Volleyball
See also
- Cricket at the 2007 South Pacific GamesCricket at the 2007 South Pacific GamesCricket at the 2007 South Pacific Games was contested by five teams. Papua New Guinea won the gold medal, Fiji won the silver, and Samoa won the bronze. Tonga and New Caledonia were the other participating nations.-Tournament:...
- Football at the 2007 South Pacific GamesFootball at the 2007 South Pacific GamesThe 2007 South Pacific Games Football was held at the Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex in Apia, Samoa in from 25 August to 7 September 2007.The Men's tournament formed the first stage of the Oceania Football Confederation's qualification tournament for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the qualification...
- Taekwondo at the 2007 South Pacific GamesTaekwondo at the 2007 South Pacific Games-Men:-Women:-See also :*Cricket at the 2007 South Pacific Games*Football at the 2007 South Pacific Games- External links :**...
External links
- Official Website
- South Pacific Games micro site at RadioAustralia.net
- List of South Pacific Games and Mini Games on www.rsssf.com by Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...
- Oceania Athletics