Countdown to Pacific Games [1]
Monday, April 27, 2015 - 22:02. Updated on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 13:50.
On July 4-18, 2015, some 3000 athletes, 500 team officials and 1000 technical officials and dignitaries from 21 neighbouring Pacific nations will converge upon Port Moresby for the Pacific Games.
With 68 days to go before official opening, the 100 days Baton relay that is underway around PNG is showcasing the rich diversity of the host country to the 15th Pacific Games.
Dubbed the “Oil Search Pacific Games Relay” after its major sponsor the baton is travelling across the nation to each of the 22 provinces and will finish its journey at the Opening Ceremony, in Port Moresby, on 4 July 2015.
The relay offers an opportunity for each province to showcase its people, its culture, its natural beauty and its unique spot in the diverse country that is PNG and welcomes everyone to be part of the journey.
It began its journey on the 26th of March 2015 with a traditional Hiri send off, from Ela Beach, Port Moresby. Oil Search, a local company, aims to get to over one million people either as baton runners, volunteers, or community groups participating along the journey. Today, 27 April, the Oil Search Pacific Games Relay travelled to the islands region and spent the day in Manus. it went on the island of Los Negros to be welcomed by the Deputy Governor, John Pomat, and the islands’ traditional dancing girls stamping to the beat of the large Manusian garamuts. Later in the day the Baton was taken by traditional M’buke, a one hull outrigger canoe, around the Bay and out to Pityluh Island.
With Papua New Guinea also commemorating its 40th year of Independence in the same year, the Games will be an integral part of the grand celebrations. And this being the third time that the Games come to Port Moresby – a sporting exchange of 28 varied sports and disciplines.
This year Australia and New Zealand will be participating in the Games in four Sports. The other countries participating are:
- American Samoa
- Cook Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- French Polynesia/Tahiti
- Guam
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- New Caledonia
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Tomorrow the Baton Relay will visit some of the schools that missed out today due to the early afternoon rain, before heading to New Ireland.