Let the Games Begin, 17th Pacific Games 2023 Opening

Last weekend was the Pacific Games 2023 opening, held in the Solomon Islands. With around 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 nations and territories gather for the 17th Pacific Games.

Norfolk Island Chef de Mission Mal Tarrant represented Norfolk Island at the opening as flag bearer and the only team member at the opening ceremony. Mal waved the Norfolk Island Flag, and TV cameras captured his proud smile plus those in the crowd waving Norfolk Island flags. The announcements at the opening talked about the sports and team events the Norfolk Island will be competing in, plus mentioned that Brent Jones was returning for the hammer throw over 30 years since he last competed at the Pacific games, plus he has his daughter Taleuah will also competing at this year’s Pacific Games.

This week Norfolk Island teams and managers flew to Australia and onto the Solomon Islands ready for the second week of competitions when they will be competing in Netball, Hammer Throwing, Discus, Shotput, Va’a Paddling, and for the first time Norfolk Island has a team competing in Touch Football.

Our thoughts and love go to Rhys Schmitz and his family as health concerns meant he could not travel to the games and compete in the boxing. A Go Fund Me page has been started to assist Rhys and his family. Here is the link to this page for readers to share and you are welcome to help with the community fundraiser if you are able to.

Fundraiser by Brogan Evans : Please help towards Rhys's fight!! (gofundme.com)

The opening ceremony and highlights of the sports and events will be available to view on Australia SBS and NITV, plus there will be coverage on TV on demand.

Pacific Games 2023 | SBS On Demand

I remember how special it was to be at the Samoa Pacific Games in 2019 at the opening ceremony. I had traveled with the Norfolk Island representatives and

the Lawn Bowls team, that was proud memory I will never forget. As Mal Tarrant entered the Solomon stadium this week, the public announcements also mentioned the Norfolk Island Bowling Teams were very successful in Samoa and 9 of the 10 bowlers were presented with medals at the 2019 Pacific Games. This year in 2023 Solomon Pacific Games, there are no Lawn Bowles and earlier this year a Pacific, Oceania Bowls tournament was played in Auckland so the Bowling Islanders would not miss out on playing each other this year. Norfolk Island team member Carman Anderson proudly won a Gold Medal in Ladies Singles at the Auckland event.

Another update on competitors, Ada Nebauer and Jonny Sheridan competed last week in Australia in a Va’a paddling. They have both qualified for the World championships in Hawaii next year. Jonny won two silvers and Ada Gold and a personal best time. We wish Ada all the best at the Pacific Games.

2023 Pacific Games Solomon Islands: Preview, schedule, how to watch live action (olympics.com)

Schedule of sports competitions at 2023 Pacific Games

• Opening Ceremony: 19 November
• Archery: 21–24 November
• Athletics: 27 November–2 December
• Basketball: 17–25 November
• Basketball 3X3: 29 November–2 December
• Beach Volleyball: 28 November–2 December
• Bodybuilding: 27 November
• Boxing: 28 November–2 December
• Football: 17 November–2 December
• Golf: 22–25 November
• Hockey: 28 November–1 December
• Judo: 20–21 November
• Karate: 23–24 November
• Kayak: 27–30 November
• Netball: 27 November–2 December
• Powerlifting: 28–30 November
• Rugby League Nines: 20–22 November
• Rugby Sevens (Union): 23–25 November
• Sailing: 20 November–2 December
• Swimming: 20–25 November
• Table Tennis: 20–25 November
• Taekwondo: 28–29 November
• Tennis: 17–30 November
• Touch Rugby: 27 November–2 December
• Triathlon: 29 November–1 December
• Va'a (outrigger canoe): 27 November–1 December
• Volleyball: 17–25 November
• Weightlifting: 20–24 November
• Closing Ceremony: 2 December

We wish the team a fantastic time in Solomon Islands, and we know how proud you will all be feeling as your competitions commence.

Here are images of Mal Tarrant at the Pacific Games Opening Ceremony.

Betty Matthews

24 November 2023