ONOC's comprehensive support framework

Behind the scenes, ONOC implemented an ambitious support framework that demonstrated the organization's commitment to athlete development and regional capacity building. The comprehensive approach aligned perfectly with ONOC's Strategic Plan 2025-2028, delivering tangible benefits across multiple priority areas.

The Voices of the Athletes (VOA) program reached new heights of engagement, with Champions Eugene Eka from Papua New Guinea, Esther Yates Pollard from Solomon Islands, and Annabelle Smith from Australia leading interactive sessions that covered safeguarding, wellbeing, and leadership development. As President Baklai Temengil-Chilton emphasized to VOA graduates during their recent training, "Sport isn't only about what happens on the field, it's about how we grow together, build confidence, and create lifelong friendships off the field too."

The Talent Identification Program, delivered through ONOC's Oceania Sport Education Programme, operated throughout the Games with expert observers assessing not just athletic potential but the crucial support ecosystems surrounding emerging athletes. This holistic approach, examining coaches, training environments, and athlete mindsets, ensures that identified talent receives the comprehensive support necessary for long-term development.

ONOC's LAX 2028 Development Training Camp pilot program bore fruit in Palau, with participants like Fiji's Patricia Verebasaga achieving personal bests and finals appearances after her transformative experience training in Mission Viejo, California. "This Mini Games has been the best performance I've ever had," Verebasaga reflected, demonstrating the program's immediate impact while building pathways toward Los Angeles 2028.

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Innovation in Athlete Care and Development

The Games showcased ONOC's evolving approach to comprehensive athlete support. The Medical Commission, led by Dr. Lusiana Ravea and Tuma Sam Lord from Fiji, provided crucial healthcare infrastructure support while building local capacity through training programs delivered months before competition began. This three-phase approach—scoping, upskilling, and real-time support—created a model for future Games medical preparedness.

Safeguarding took center stage with dedicated officers from across the region ensuring athlete welfare remained paramount. With nearly half the participating athletes under 18, the comprehensive framework developed by ONOC in partnership with Team Up created multiple reporting channels and support mechanisms, ensuring that protection became a natural part of the athletic experience.

The partnership with The Reporters' Academy empowered young Palauan journalists to tell their own stories, with 20 local youth receiving intensive media training that generated over 40,000 social media views and opened career pathways in local media organizations. This initiative embodied ONOC's commitment to sustainable development that extends far beyond sporting competition.

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The Road Ahead: Building toward Brisbane 2032

As the Pacific sporting community looks ahead, the calendar offers exciting opportunities for continued development and excellence. The 2026 Nauru Micronesia Games in July will provide crucial competition experience, followed immediately by the Glasgow Commonwealth Games from July 23 to August 2, where many Pacific Mini Games athletes will compete on the global stage.

The 2027 Tahiti Pacific Games from July 24 to August 8 represent the next major milestone, where the talent identified and developed through ONOC's programs will have the opportunity to shine. The ultimate goal remains the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics from July 14-30, with Pacific athletes better prepared than ever thanks to development initiatives like the LAX training camps and comprehensive support frameworks established through partnerships with international coaching experts.

The cycle continues with the 2029 Cook Islands Pacific Mini Games, ensuring that the spirit of unity and excellence demonstrated so powerfully in Palau will continue to inspire future generations of Pacific athletes.

ONOC's systematic approach to athlete development, from grassroots talent identification through elite performance support, creates pathways that extend far beyond individual competitions. The organization's commitment to holistic athlete welfare—encompassing physical health, mental wellbeing, safeguarding, and leadership development—establishes a new standard for sporting excellence in the Pacific region.

As the extinguishing of the Pacific Games flame provided the final symbolic moment in Palau, the comprehensive support systems established by ONOC ensure that "our journey continues — and together, we move forward, empowered by unity." The flame may be extinguished in Palau, but the spirit of Pacific unity burns brighter than ever, empowering the next generation of champions to reach even greater heights through world-class development programs and unwavering regional support.

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For more information about the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, visit;