KOROR, Palau (Island Times) — A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for today to officially mark the completion of 11 sports facilities upgraded for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, set to begin Sunday, June 29.
President Surangel Whipps Jr., along with Ambassador Jessica Lee of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and other local dignitaries, will preside over the inauguration of the facilities, which were funded through more than $5.7 million in support from Taiwan.
The completed projects include:
- Long Island Beach Volleyball Facility
- Meyuns Canoe Racing Facility
- Meyuns Softball Field
- Meyuns PNOC Swimming Pool Facility
- Wrestling and Weightlifting Facility
- Palau High School Spider Gym (Basketball)
- Palau National Track and Field
- Asahi Baseball Field
- Melekeok Archery Facility
- KB Bridge Beach Wrestling Facility
- Ngiwal Triathlon Facility
All facilities are scheduled to host sporting events during the Pacific Mini Games, which will bring athletes from across the region.
Some facilities, such as the Palau High School Spider Gym, faced delays due to late arrival of construction materials. The gym was completed just this week, according to Dr. Patrick Tellei, chair of the Palau Pacific Games Organizing Committee. He assured the public earlier that all venues would be completed before the Games began.
While some venues like the national track and field were completed earlier, allowing Team Palau athletes to train in advance, others—including the Spider Gym—were not available in time for pre-Games basketball training.
Despite the setbacks, all facilities have now been completed and are ready to welcome athletes, ensuring high-quality venues for competition.