The number of sports allowed at future Pacific Games has now been reduced from 26 to 24 with the decision made after a Pacific Games Council General Assembly meeting yesterday in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

PGC Executive Director, Andrew Minogue, said the reason was “Just to lighten the load on our hosts but at the same time we [are] increasing the number of sports on the programme that are compulsory from 14 to 16, with sailing and triathlon being promoted.”

Mr Minogue added that they invited Australia and New Zealand to be observers at the meeting. Both countries are members of the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC).

Other results from the meeting included the approval for Australia and New Zealand to compete in two sports in the Pacific Mini Games in December 2017 to be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The two countries were also approved to compete in eight sports in the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga, double the sports they competed in during the last Pacific Games held in 2015 in Papua New Guinea.