Mini Games

‘Great success’ of Honiara Mini Games

The first South Pacific Mini Games, held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, from July 7 to 16, were judged a great success by all concerned.

Sixteen countries took part in the games, which were timed to coincide with the third anniver sary of Solomon Islands inde pendence (July 7, 1978).

Planned within the frame work of the South Pacific Games organisation, the Mini Games, like the ‘big’ games, will be held every four years, but in a leapfrog relationship, in the second of the four years separating each South Pacific Games. An important aspect of the Mini Games is that they will be held in countries not yet in a position to host a South Pacific Tames, and will serve as a najor stimulus for them to mprove their sporting facilities o a point where, at some time in he future, they will be able to io so. The next Mini Games are et down to be held in the Cook slands in 1985.

The Honiara games saw con ests in athletics (men and vomen), soccer (men), boxing men), tennis (men and vomen), and netball (women).

As the accompanying medals able shows, the French erritories of New Caledonia nd French Polynesia main lined their predominance in louth Pacific at Honiara. But *apua New Guinea pressed rench Polynesia close, winning nly two fewer gold medals and wo fewer medals overall.

The five participating ountries who do not appear on ic list are Guam, Kiribati, Jauru, Norfolk Island and Jorthern Marianas. Speaking t the closing ceremony, chair lan of the Solomon Islands Organising Committee, David ampbell, said that partici ation of smaller countries who id not receive any medals ;ave value to the achievement f the medal winners’.

An index of the enthusiasm roused in the Solomons by the rst big international sporting /ent ever staged in the country

is provided by the near-tragic case of Ben Ramalafa. Ben, in his early 20s, and hailing from Ataa, could not afford the fare to Honiara to see the games, so decided to risk it by travelling from Auki by raft. He was found by the ship Waimasi on July 15, drifting helplessly, without paddles, between Tulagi and Savo. He was so weak that crew members had to lift him on board. However, it ended well: Ben was treated at Honiara’s Central Hospital and released after 24 hours.

An important decision for the future of the South Pacific Games was taken on the sidelines of the Mini Games.

Western Samoa’s preparations for the 1983 games, which are scheduled to be held in that country, were the subject of heated discussion among games organisers, criticisms were freely aired, and the threatened boycott of the games by New Caledonia and French Polynesia because swimming will not be among the events in Apia was thrashed out.

But, in the end, according to secretary of the Western Samoa Sports Federation, John Macdonald; ‘Everyone was happy, swimming was forgot ten, and we were assured that Western Samoa would host the 1983 games.’

Hawaii and New Zealand Maoris may send teams to the games in Apia, Mr Macdonald said. This would be decided at the next meeting of the South Pacific Games Council in Apia in March.

Top: Honiara couldn’t do enough to make the games a success and an enthusiastic signwriter threw in an extra letter for the closing ceremony banner. Left: Victory parade for Tahiti after winning the soccer gold. Below left: Joe Rodan of Fiji and Lapule Tameau who won the gold for PNG stride out in the 400 metres. Below; The bravest bid of the games as exhausted Abel Manumanua crawls over the line to win a bronze medal for PNG. Bottom: It’s hats off as Tahiti parades in the opening ceremony. All

pictures by Philip Vahia.

Country

Medal Tally

Gold

Silver

Bronze

New Caledonia 17 17 11 French Polynesia 10 7 5 Papua New Guinea 8 6 6 Fiji 5 5 10 Western Samoa 4 2 3 Solomon Islands 2 6 9 American Samoa 2 I 0 Cook Islands 1 3 0 Tonga 1 0 2 Wallis & Futuna 1 0 1 Vanuatu 0 4 8