1977 Pacific Conference Games

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox Athletics Championships

|Name = III Pacific Conference Games

|Logo = BruceStadium19032005.JPG

|Size = 200px

|Colour =

|Optional caption = The host stadium in 2005 after being converted

|Host city = Canberra, Australia

|Dates = 3 and 4 December

|Stadium = Bruce Stadium

|Nations participating =

|Athletes participating =

|Events = 34

|Previous = 1973 Toronto

|Next = 1981 Christchurch

}}

The 1977 Pacific Conference Games was the third edition of the international athletics competition between five Pacific coast nations: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. It was held on 3 and 4 December in Canberra, Australia.[http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/262851 Third Pacific Conference Games, Canberra, 3-4 December 1977]. National Library of Australia. Retrieved on 2015-01-15. A total of 20 men's and 14 women's athletics events were contested. Two new women's events were added to the programme of the previous edition: the 400 metres hurdles and the 4×400 metres relay. The relay event had gained Olympic status in 1972, but the inclusion of the women's hurdles event was ahead of its time as it was not held at the Olympics until seven years later.[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/pcg.htm Pacific Conference Games]. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2015-01-14.

It marked the first major international athletics event to be held in the country since the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The venue, Bruce Stadium, was purpose-built for the competition and represented a new, modern stadium for the sport in Australia.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19770729&id=k_5jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f-YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4346,8709361 3rd Pacific Conference Games]. The Sydney Morning Herald (1977-07-29). Retrieved on 2015-01-15. The stadium later went on to host the 1985 IAAF World Cup.[http://giostadiumcanberra.com.au/venue/stadium-facilities/item/history History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115201802/http://giostadiumcanberra.com.au/venue/stadium-facilities/item/history |date=2015-01-15 }}. Stadium Canberra. Retrieved on 2015-01-15. The area's sporting reputation grew with the opening of the Australian Institute of Sport nearby in 1981.[http://www.australia.com/about/culture-history/stadiums/canberra-stadium.aspx Canberra Stadium] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115201909/http://www.australia.com/about/culture-history/stadiums/canberra-stadium.aspx |date=2015-01-15 }}. Australia History. Retrieved on 2015-01-15.