1997 South Pacific Mini Games

The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games were held at Pago Pago in American Samoa from 11–22 August 1997. It was the fifth edition of the South Pacific Mini Games.[1] It was much larger than previous editions, with an almost doubling of the number of medals awarded compared to the 1993 South Pacific Mini Games. The impressive performances by Nauru in weightlifting continued in Pago Pago, with the tiny nation finishing on top of the unofficial medal table after winning 33 gold.[2]

1997 South Pacific Mini Games
Host cityPago Pago
CountryAmerican Samoa
Nations participating19
Athletes participating1,798*
Events11 sports
Opening ceremonyAugust 11, 1997 (1997-08-11)
Closing ceremonyAugust 22, 1997 (1997-08-22)

The 1997 Games were criticized for poor preparation by local and international journalists,[3] with Matai Akauo in the Pacific Islands Monthly describing them as "the most disoganised ever in the history of the Pacific Islands Council".[4] Without other means transportation, some athletes had to walk to their venues.[5] However, the games went ahead and the events were able to be completed.[6]

Participating countries

Nineteen Pacific nations participated in the Games:[1]*


Note: A number in parentheses indicate the size of a country's team.

Sports

The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games hosted eleven sports:[7]


Note: A number in parentheses indicates how many medal events were contested in that sport.

Final medal table

Nauru topped the medal table due to gold medals won in weightlifting. Fiji won the most overall medals:[1]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Nauru (NRU)33101255
2 Fiji (FIJ)31312890
3 American Samoa (ASA)2023750
4 Papua New Guinea (PNG)18231758
5 Samoa (SAM)1491336
6 New Caledonia (NCL)108422
7 French Polynesia (TAH)79824
8 Tonga (TON)44917
9 Solomon Islands (SOL)261119
10 Vanuatu (VAN)24410
11 Guam (GUM)2226
12 Cook Islands (COK)1348
13 F.S. Micronesia (FSM)0303
14 Norfolk Island (NFK)0101
15 Niue (NIU)0000
 Northern Mariana Islands (MNP)0000
 Palau (PLW)0000
 Wallis and Futuna (WLF)0000
Totals (18 nations)144136119399


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See also

Notes

^* The official site provided web pages for each country with the number of athletes in each team:

^a Basketball was included in the 1997 Mini Games in lieu of the FIBA Oceania Tournament.[8]

^b Golf: Adi Sai won bronze as a member of the Fijian women's team at the 1979, 1983 and 1987 SPG, and at the 1989, 1993, and 1997 SPMG.[9]

^c Netballers walked to their training venue.[5]

^d Sailing: Dean Hudson was a bronze medalist for American Samoa sailing Hobie 16's at the 1997 South Pacific Mini Games.[10]

^e International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) coach Sue Gozansky coached the Tongan women's and men's teams in preparation for the 1997 Mini Games.[11]

^f The large number of medals awarded for weightlifting (three per weight division) allowed Nauru to top the gold medal count.[2][12]

References
  1. "Medals Won at Mini Games". Pacific Games Council. 2013. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. "5th South Pacific Mini Games". Islands Business. Islands Business International Limited. 23 (9). p.8. 1997. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  3. Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44, Col. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  4. Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  5. Akauola, Matai (1997). "Little fun in Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. Pacific Publications. 67 (9). p.44, Col. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. "South Pacific Mini Games end: final report". Pacific Islands Report. 22 August 1997. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  7. "Sports Events". 1997 South Pacific Mini Games. 1997. Archived from the original on 2 February 1999. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  8. "FIBA Oceania Events". Sporting Pulse. 2005. p. 7, South Pacific Mini Games American Samoa. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  9. "Golf in Fiji will farewell Adi Sai". National Golf Association of Fiji. 9 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  10. "Membership biography: Dean Hudson (Chair)". National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. 24 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  11. "Sue Gozansky". USA Volleyball. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. "25 years of weightlifting in Nauru". Nauru Weightlifting Federation. 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

Sources
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