2023 Pacific Games
{{Short description|17th edition of the Pacific Games}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox games
| name = XVII Pacific Games
| logo = 2023 Pacific Games logo.png
| size = 150px
| caption = Official logo of the Games
| host_city = Honiara
| country = Solomon Islands
| motto = Challenge, Celebrate, Unite
| nations = 24
| athletes =
| events = 342 in 24 sports
| opening = 19 November 2023
| closing = 2 December 2023
| opened_by = Manasseh Sogavare
| athlete_oath = Marx Boussougou
Lara Grangeon
| judge_oath =
| torch_lighter =
| stadium =
| website = [https://www.sol2023.com.sb/ sol2023.com.sb]
| previous = Apia 2019
| next = Pirae 2027
}}
The 2023 Pacific Games, officially known as the XVII Pacific Games and commonly known as Sol 2023 or Honiara 2023, was a continental multi-sport event for Oceania countries and territories held in Honiara, Solomon Islands between 19 November and 2 December 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1037335/solomon-islands-awarded-2023-pacific-games |title=Solomon Islands awarded 2023 Pacific Games |date=11 May 2016 |work=insidethegames.biz |access-date=17 June 2021 }} This was the first time that the Solomon Islands have hosted the Pacific Games.
The Games were originally scheduled for 16–29 July 2023. However, in July 2021, the Games organizers requested a date change due to delays in preparation for the games caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Solomon Islands.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1109993/pacific-games-2023-delayed-by-four-month |title=Pacific Games in 2023 delayed by four months after Solomon Islands request more time |date=10 July 2021 |work=insidethegames.biz |access-date=30 August 2021 }}
New Caledonia topped the medal table by both total golds (82) and total medals (197), with Tahiti finishing second by both respects (57 and 160). Australia finished third, setting a record for the most gold medals and total medals ever won by their delegation at a Pacific Games with 50 and 84. Samoa finished fourth, with a total of 34 gold and 76 medals. Papua New Guinea rounded off the top five list with 29 gold medals and third in the overall medal count, with 105 medals. Host nation Solomon Islands won twelve gold medals and 78 medals, its best result at any Pacific Games, finishing in seventh place. Marshall Islands won their first ever Pacific Games gold medals, a record five all from weightlifting.
Host selection
Two countries expressed interest and launched bids for the 17th games. Tahiti, French Polynesia, which hosted the event in 1971 and 1995, was the first to express their intentions in hosting the 2023 Games during the Pacific Games Council (PGC) General Assembly in Port Moresby in July 2015. The other bidder, the Solomon Islands, in 2016 expressed interest with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare launching the country's bid for a potential first time host of the quadrennial event.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1037181/solomon-islands-to-challenge-tahiti-for-right-to-host-2023-pacific-games |title=Solomon Islands to challenge Tahiti for right to host 2023 Pacific Games |date=6 May 2016 |work=insidethegames.biz |access-date=17 June 2021 }} On 11 May 2016, during the PGC General Assembly in Port Vila, with the decision taken by the 22 members of the PGC awarded the hosting rights to the Solomon Islands. The margin of victory was reportedly a single vote.{{cite web |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1037335/solomon-islands-awarded-2023-pacific-games |title=Solomon Islands awarded 2023 Pacific Games |date=11 May 2016 |work=insidethegames.biz |access-date=17 June 2021 }}
| class="wikitable" width="auto" style="text-align: center" |
| colspan="6" |2023 Pacific Games bidding results |
|---|
| style="background:#efefef;"
! City ! PGA | style="background: silver" |Final Votes |
| style="text-align:left;" | Honiara
| style="text-align:left;" | {{SOL}} | style="text-align:center;" | 12 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Pape'ete
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Flagicon|PYF}} Tahiti, French Polynesia | style="text-align:center;" | 10 |
Development and preparation
The 'Pacific Games 2023 Act 2017' created the National Hosting Authority (NHA) as the 2023 Pacific Games Hosting Authority to manage the duties of the committees created by the Act, including the Games Organizing Committee, Games Facilities Committee, and NHA Secretariat.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.gov.sb/sites/default/files/legislation/Acts/2017/Pacific%20Games%202023%20Act%202017.pdf |title=Pacific Games 2023 Act 2017 |website=www.parliament.gov.sb |publisher=National Parliament of Solomon Islands |access-date=14 April 2023 }} The NHA's responsibility is to oversee the 2023 Pacific Games overall by making sure the Solomon Islands Pacific Games Association and the Government fulfill their obligations under the host contract and by managing the Games' financial planning and budgeting. This strives to ensure vital connection between public services, venues, and building. Additionally, NHA makes sure that the provisions of the Pacific Games 2023 Act (2017) are followed and upheld.{{cite web |url=https://www.sol2023.com.sb/national-hosting-authority/#:~:text=The%20National%20Hosting%20Authority%20(NHA,Committee%20and%20the%20NHA%20Secretariat. |title=NHA Homepage |website=www.sol2023nha.com |publisher=SOL2023NHA |access-date=14 April 2023 }}
= Security =
Military and police personal from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand assisted the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force throughout the games.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-14 |title=Pacific Games 2023: NZDF contingent to support Solomon Islands |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/502380/pacific-games-2023-nzdf-contingent-to-support-solomon-islands |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite news |date=2023-11-08 |title=Australia sends 100 police to Solomon Islands for Pacific Games |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/australia-sends-100-police-solomon-islands-pacific-games-2023-11-08/ |access-date=2023-11-14}}
Venues
The games will take place in 11 venues spread across the host city of Honiara. The 2023 Pacific Games' sport venues are conveniently close to one another and can be reached in 5 to 30 minutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.sol2023.com.sb/venues/ |title=Venues |website=www.sol2023.com.sb |publisher=SOL23 |access-date=14 April 2023 }} The following venues have been confirmed:
- Aquatic Center (new) – Swimming
- DC Park (existing) – Archery, Sailing, Open water swimming, Touch rugby, Va’a/Outrigger canoeing
- Friendship Hall (new) – Basketball, Boxing, Netball, Volleyball
- HCC Sports Precinct (existing) – Table tennis
- Honiara Golf Club (existing) – Golf
- King George Hockey Turf (renovated) – Field hockey
- Lawson Tama Stadium (existing) – Football
- Maranatha Hall (existing) – Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Weightlifting
- National Stadium (Solomon Islands)/Main Stadium (new) – Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, Athletics, Football, Rugby league 9s, Rugby 7s
- National Tennis Center (renovated) – Tennis
- SIFF Academy (existing) – 3x3 Basketball, Beach volleyball, Karate, Judo
- SIFF Academy (Field 1 & 2) – Football
Participating nations
24 countries and territories participated: the 22 Pacific Games Associations (PGA), and two Associate members - New Zealand, and Australia.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{flagIOC2|ASA|2023 Pacific Games}} (189)
- {{flagIOC2|AUS|2023 Pacific Games}} (75)
- {{flagIOC2|COK|2023 Pacific Games}} (103)
- {{flagIOC2|FSM|2023 Pacific Games}} (4)
- {{flagIOC2|FIJ|2023 Pacific Games}} (592)
- {{flagIOC2|GUM|2023 Pacific Games}} (49)
- {{flagIOC2|KIR|2023 Pacific Games}} (111)
- {{flagIOC2|MHL|2023 Pacific Games}} (8)
- {{flagIOC2|NRU|2023 Pacific Games}} (100)
- {{flagIOC2|NCL|2023 Pacific Games}} (285)
- {{flagIOC2|NZL|2023 Pacific Games}} (46)
- {{flagIOC2|NIU|2023 Pacific Games}} (47)
- {{flagIOC2|NFK|2023 Pacific Games}} (30)
- {{flagIOC2|NMI|2023 Pacific Games}} (92)
- {{flagIOC2|PLW|2023 Pacific Games}} (23)
- {{flagIOC2|PNG|2023 Pacific Games}} (382)
- {{flagIOC2|SAM|2023 Pacific Games}} (112)
- {{flagIOC2|SOL|2023 Pacific Games}} (601) (Host)
- {{flagIOC2|TAH|2023 Pacific Games}} (223)
- {{flagIOC2|TKL|2023 Pacific Games}} (1)
- {{flagIOC2|TGA|2023 Pacific Games}} (58)
- {{flagIOC2|TUV|2023 Pacific Games}} (81)
- {{flagIOC2|VAN|2023 Pacific Games}} (158)
- {{flagIOC2|WLF|2023 Pacific Games}} (63)
{{div col end}}
Sports
As amended in the Pacific Games charter on 14 July 2019, in Apia, Samoa, the programme of the Pacific Games shall consist of 17 mandatory sports and 7 optionals who have to reflect the local interests.{{cite web |url=https://websites.sportstg.com/get_file.cgi?id=36687313 |title=Pacific Games Council |format=PDF 705 KB |date=14 July 2019 |access-date=17 June 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.solomonchamber.com.sb/media/1723/sol2023-update.pdf |title=SOL2023 PACIFIC GAMES MASTER PLAN |format=PDF 747 KB |date= |work=National Hosting Authority - Sol2023 |access-date=17 June 2021 }} The following sports are scheduled for the games:
{{columns-list|colwidth=18.5em|
- {{GamesSport|Archery | Format=d | Events= 14}}
- {{GamesSport|Athletics | Format=d | Events= 54}}
- {{GamesSport|Basketball | Format=d}}
- Basketball (2)
- 3x3 basketball (2)
- {{GamesSport|Bodybuilding | Format=d | Events= 12}}
- {{GamesSport|Boxing | Format=d | Events= 12}}
- {{GamesSport|Field hockey | Format=d | Events= 2}}
- {{GamesSport|Football | Format=d | Events= 2}}
- {{GamesSport|Golf | Format=d | Events= 4}}
- {{GamesSport|Judo | Format=d | Events= 14}}
- {{GamesSport|Karate | Format=d | Events= 16}}
- {{GamesSport|Netball | Format=d | Events= 1}}
- {{GamesSport|Outrigger canoeing | Format=d | Events= 20}}
- {{GamesSport|Powerlifting | Format=d | Events= 16}}
- {{GamesSport|Rugby league nines | Format=d | Events= 2}}
- {{GamesSport|Rugby sevens | Format=d | Events= 2}}
- {{GamesSport|Sailing | Format=d | Events= 6}}
- {{GamesSport|Swimming | Format=d | Events= 43}}
- {{GamesSport|Table tennis | Format=d | Events= 11}}
- {{GamesSport|Taekwondo | Format=d | Events= 19}}
- {{GamesSport|Tennis | Format=d | Events= 7}}
- {{GamesSport|Touch rugby | Format=d | Events= 3}}
- {{GamesSport|Triathlon | Format=d | Events= 6}}
- {{GamesSport|Volleyball | Format=d}}
- Volleyball (2)
- Beach volleyball (2)
- {{GamesSport|Weightlifting | Format=d | Events= 60}}
}}
Calendar
The 2023 schedule by session was released by the Games Organizing Committee on 19 June 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.sol2023.com.sb/goc-release-sol2023-sports-schedule/# |title=GOC release Sol2023 Sports Schedule |date=19 June 2023 |work=Sol2023 |access-date=19 June 2023 }}
Daily medal events for all sports are yet to be confirmed.
{{2023 Pacific Games Calendar}}
Medal table
{{Medals table
| caption = 2023 Pacific Games medal table{{cite web |title=Medal standings |url=https://sol2023.gems.pro/Result/MedalList.aspx?SetLanguage=en-GB&Gems_ScreenWidth=1280&Gems_ScreenHeight=720&Gems_ScreenAvailWidth=1280&Gems_ScreenAvailHeight=680 |publisher=2023 Pacific Games |access-date=21 November 2023 }}
| host = SOL
| flag_template = flagIOC2
| event = 2023 Pacific Games
| team =
| gold_NCL = 82 | silver_NCL = 57 | bronze_NCL = 58|name_NCL = {{flaglink|NCL|at the 2023 Pacific Games|variant=merged}}
| gold_TAH = 57 | silver_TAH = 51 | bronze_TAH = 51
| gold_AUS = 50 | silver_AUS = 24 | bronze_AUS = 10
| gold_SAM = 34 | silver_SAM = 23 | bronze_SAM = 19
| gold_PNG = 29 | silver_PNG = 37 | bronze_PNG = 39
| gold_FIJ = 21 | silver_FIJ = 31 | bronze_FIJ = 41
| gold_SOL = 12 | silver_SOL = 38 | bronze_SOL = 29 | host_SOL = yes
| gold_NZL = 10 | silver_NZL = 12 | bronze_NZL = 12
| gold_NRU = 9 | silver_NRU = 12 | bronze_NRU = 7
| gold_GUM = 7 | silver_GUM = 4 | bronze_GUM = 6
| gold_COK = 5 | silver_COK = 3 | bronze_COK = 10
| gold_MHL = 5 | silver_MHL = 3 | bronze_MHL = 2
| gold_NMI = 5 | silver_NMI = 1 | bronze_NMI = 6
| gold_KIR = 4 | silver_KIR = 1 | bronze_KIR = 6
| gold_VAN = 3 | silver_VAN = 5 | bronze_VAN = 11
| gold_FSM = 3 | silver_FSM = 1 | bronze_FSM = 0
| gold_TGA = 2 | silver_TGA = 8 | bronze_TGA = 9
| gold_WLF = 3 | silver_WLF = 6 | bronze_WLF = 6
| gold_TUV = 0 | silver_TUV = 5 | bronze_TUV = 0
| gold_ASA = 0 | silver_ASA = 3 | bronze_ASA = 3
| gold_PLW = 0 | silver_PLW = 0 | bronze_PLW = 3
| gold_NFK = 0 | silver_NFK = 0 | bronze_NFK = 1
| gold_NIU = 1 | silver_NIU = 0 | bronze_NIU = 1
| gold_TKL = 0 | silver_TKL = 0 | bronze_TKL = 0
}}
Ceremonies
=Opening ceremony=
{{main|2023 Pacific Games opening ceremony}}
The opening ceremony of the 2023 Pacific Games took place on Sunday, 19 November 2023, at the Solomon Islands National Stadium in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
=Closing ceremony=
The closing ceremony was held on 2 December 2023, in Solomon Islands National Stadium.
Controversies
=Doping=
In December 2024, the Pacific Games Council confirmed two positive doping tests. Nauru's Mahaasin Daoe failed a doping test and was stripped of a gold medal in the men's 66 kg powerlifting. In the men's shot put, Tahiti's Tumatai Dauphin was stripped from a silver medal after initially placing second.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/pacgamesdopetests/104721934 |title=Athletes from Nauru and Tahiti pay the price for "inadvertent doping" at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands |date=13 December 2024 |work=ABC Pacific |access-date=21 March 2025 }} Medals for both events were reallocated respectively.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Pacific Games}}
{{Countries at the 2023 Pacific Games}}
Category:Pacific Games by year