5 Sep 2011

Sport: Vanuatu to host 2017 Pacific Mini Games

5:20 am on 5 September 2011

Vanuatu will host the 2017 Pacific Mini-Games after beating out bids from Nauru and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Each nation made a 30-minute presentation to the General Assembly of the Pacific Games Council in Noumea before votes were cast.

Vinnie Wylie reports.

"After Nauru was eliminated from the running, Vanuatu edged the CNMI 13-9 in the second round of voting. The Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council, Andrew Minogue, says the central location of Vanuatu in the Pacific was a big factor in voting, as it will help to keep travel costs down for other competing nations. He says Vanuatu were also helped by the fact they have hosted the event before and the General Assembly liked the bigger sports programme on offer. The 2017 Mini-Games will be the 10th edition of the four-yearly tournament, with Wallis & Futuna to host the next event in two years time."