9 Mar 2013

Sport: Mini Games still seen as important for Pacific

6:38 am on 9 March 2013

The Pacific Games Council says the Mini Games continue to play an important role on the region's sporting calendar.

Council officials visited Wallis and Futuna this week to check on preparations for the upcoming edition of the Games in September.

The Council's Executive Director, Andrew Minogue, says the smaller programme of just eight sports give smaller countries a chance to host a sporting event and improve some facilities.

He says the Mini-Games also continue to be an important spring-board for athletes.

"For a lot of Pacific Islander athletes there are still very limited opportunities to compete in international events and by having two events in our four-year calendar - the Games and the Mini Games - it gives the opportunities, particularly to younger athletes, to develop some sort of international competition experience. I think this year in Wallis and Futuna, whether it's in weightlifting or rugby sevens or track and field, we will see the emergence of new stars in the region."

The Executive Director of the Pacific Games Council, Andrew Minogue.