The Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) is set to present Fiji’s proposal to host the 2031 Pacific Games in Palau next month. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced this during the 2023 Fiji Sports Award ceremony, confirming that Fiji has officially submitted its bid through FASANOC.
“This is a bold step, and I have every confidence that we will succeed in bringing this prestigious event to our shores. I also extend our good wishes to FASANOC as they present Fiji’s bid in Palau next month in October,” Rabuka stated in his keynote address at the event. The bid presentation is required to occur seven years prior to the event in 2031.
Fiji first expressed its intention to host the Games during the Pacific Games General Assembly held last year in the Solomon Islands, competing against five other countries: Vanuatu, Guam, American Samoa, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea, all of which are also seeking to host this major sporting competition.
For Fiji’s bid to be successful, support from both the government and opposition will be crucial. A team from FASANOC is reportedly managing all necessary documentation in collaboration with the government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Fiji has previously hosted the Pacific Games three times, with the most recent event taking place in 2003 in the capital city. A successful bid would require the Fiji Sports Council to enhance its facilities to accommodate the numerous games and athletes expected to participate.
Tahiti is scheduled to host the next Pacific Games in 2027.