Port Villa Vanuatu prior to the opening of the 2017 Mini Pacific Games Vanuatu
The 5th Sports Ministers meeting was held on December 2nd and 3rd before the Official Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Port Villa, Vanuatu on December 4th. The Sports Ministers meeting was hosted by the Pacific Games Council in conjunction with the Government of Vanuatu. The 5th Ministers of Sports meeting theme was “Using Sport as a Tool to Achieve National Development Outcomes”. Minister Temengil-Chilton joined other Sports Ministers of the Pacific at this 5th Ministers of Sports Meeting.
This meeting presented an opportunity for Pacific Ministers of Sports and partnerships with Pacific Games Council, Pacific Games Association and relevant bodies to discuss policies around how the Pacific can harness the power of sports to achieve national development outcomes in the areas of economic, social, environmental and cultural priorities within national governments’ development agendas.
On 2nd December, a Ministers roundtable meeting on Pacific Sport and Physical Activity Policy was held to present further dialogue and discussions on Sport as articulated in the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development that Sport is an enabler for development and peace through its promotion of tolerance, respect and empowerment of women and young people. The key objective of the roundtable was to present the outcomes of the UNESCO 6th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VI) and the Kazan Action Plan, Explore opportunities for the development of National Sport Policy in Pacific Island Countries and develop a set of specific recommendations for the next day Pacific Sports Ministers Meeting, the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in 2018, and the Pacific Island Forum 2018. In addition, to agree on regional action plan to strengthen sport policy development and regional coordination mechanisms to maximise the contribution of sport to sustainable development in the Pacific. The 2nd December roundtable meeting was Chaired by Minister Baklai Temengil-Chilton of Palau, and Co Chaired by Minister of Sports and Youth of Vanuatu. The roundtable meeting was attended by Ministers, Pacific Games Council, Pacific Games Association, Oceania National Olympic Committee, Sports Matters, UNESCO, Pacific Island Forum and other civil organizations for sports, and senior officials in charge of sports in the region. The outcome statement of the Pacific Sport and Physical Activity Policy Roundtable Meeting was presented at the 2nd day of the Ministers of Sports Meeting and was endorsed and agreed by all Sports Ministers as stated in the Ministers Communique of the 5th Ministers of Sports Meeting in Port Villa, December 4, 2017. Joining Minister Temengil-Chilton from Palau at this meetings, was Ms. Stephanie Ngirichoimei from Palau National Olympic Committee, also representing the regional technical officials in Raising the Voice of Sports in the Pacific as part of the Oceania National Olympic Committee work.
Minister Temengil-Chilton will stay in Vanuatu to join Team Palau in the Mini Pacific Games 2017. Team Palau athletes will participate in the Beach Volleyball and Archery. The Chef de Mission for Team Palau is Mr. Alonz Moses and Jayvan Emesiochl providing team support/media. The first team competition for Palau is Beach Volleyball event kicking off on the 9th of December followed also by Archery events. For more information about the Mini Pacific Games in Port Villa Vanuatu, please check the Games Website at www.van2017.com. The Games Theme of Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Games is “Ignite The Spirit Within”.