Did you know that the islands around the South Pacific have their own version of the Olympics? It”s true! Fiji was the first host country in 1963. It “s a great athletics event, but the true purpose of the Pacific Mini Games is to create bonds, friendship, and brotherhood among the people of the Pacific Region. Most importantly, at the heart of the Pacific Mini Games are The Four Pillars: Mana (spirit), Legacy, Tradition, and Winning Hearts (sharing the best of the people and the nations). No one is discriminated by race, religion, or politics.

Teams compete in different sports including tennis, golf, boxing, swimming, bodybuilding, weightlifting, and sailing. This year, some of the nations who participated in the 12-day event included the Cook Islands, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Norfolk, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and, of course, Fiji.

Our representative for the 2009 Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli

We are proud to announce that our representative for the Pacific Mini Games, Ernest Petueli, Jr., took home the Bronze Medal in the Long Jump. Ernest has been playing soccer since the age of seven and has received three gold medals from the mayor and the community of Tavua. He represented Fiji at the Oceania Championships in Brisbane, Australia, and then at the Pacific Mini Games. Ernest’s father, Ernest Petueli Sr., is a a FIJI Water employee and they are both very active members of the Fiji community. You can find them volunteering at community events such as walkathons and cleanings of local schools. Congratulations, Ernest! We are so proud of you!