2023 Pacific Games: Challenged, celebrated, united

HONIARA, Solomon Islands—The 2023 Pacific Games definitely challenged, celebrated, and united Oceania and Team NMI in the Hapi Isles, the Solomon Islands, for almost three weeks of sport, competition, and camaraderie.

Just as the over 10,000 people in attendance had witnessed the opening of the games, they witnessed the closing of it—which ended just as it had started—with a bang, as it officially drew to a close last Saturday night at the National Sport Stadium.

The Games brought over 100 NMI athletes together from 10 different sports with one mission in mind: haul in medals and make the NMI proud. They could say they have accomplished that and more as they collected 13 medals overall, set and broke NMI records, and won the hearts of the Pacific.

Time stood still, but also flew in a cacophony of exhaustion, relentlessness of the human spirit, and drive for success, as the Pacific saw incredible achievements and moments—from underdog victories of small nations, to overpowering domination by powerhouses New Caledonia, Tahiti, and host Solomon Islands in the Games’ 24 sports.

Almost three weeks of the NMI team’s hustling in a new environment—which more or less was a tough culture shock; persevering through the circumstances and conditions; on top of training and competing culminated into a night of pride, goodbyes, and celebration.

Volunteers, officials, and performers poured onto the field to be recognized for their hard work, then the 24 flag bearers of each island nation that participated came out and lined up in the middle of the stadium for the crowd to see and cheer them on.

Next to parade in and say their final goodbyes were the athletes of each nation themselves—first was Papua New Guinea, then host Solomon Islands.

Performers then joined the athletes seated in the middle of the field, along with Solo, the 2023 Pacific Games mascot, and a giant plastic sculpture, and treated the crowd with song and dance.

Jenly Wini, a female weightlifter from Solomon Islands, and a male weightlifter from Fiji, Taniela Rainibogi, were then named best female and male athletes of the 2023 Pacific Games.

Before closing remarks from Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan, Louis Provost, president of the Olympic Committee of French Polynesia, said Tahiti would be honored to host the 2027 Pacific Games.

During Provost’s speech, a video showing the islands that make up French Polynesia were greeted by cheers from the crowd and from the huge Tahitian delegation that was seated next to Team NMI.

Part of Provost’s speech said that they ensure the athletes will feel at home by their hospitality and kindness. “Today we say goodbye with hearts full of gratitude… see you in Tahiti in 2027,” said Provost.

After, a powerful war dance performance was led by Tahitian powerlifter Heimanarii Tavi that held the crowd captive for a few minutes, Lakhan then gave his remarks.

Lakhan said Honiara “delivered a Games of which every Solomon Islander should be proud.”

“We came from all corners of the Pacific to give credence to the purpose and objectives of these Games as promulgated by our forefathers when they established and hosted the first Pacific Games in Suva, Fiji in 1963,” said Lakhan.

“These Games have been a gift from them to us, the future generation of Pacific Islanders. For us to meet, create bonds of kinship, friendship and brotherhood among the people of the Pacific region,” he said. “The 17th Pacific Games was no exception. The government and the people of Solomon Islands, under the leadership of their Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, by hosting these Games, not only united and strengthened the bond between the people of Solomon Islands, but also the people of the Pacific.”

After Lakhan’s remarks, fireworks lit up the sky, then welcomed all athletes on the field to join in dance as the Solomons drew the curtain on hosting the 2023 Pacific Games.