Tuvalu Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. They lie east-northeast ...

participates in the

Pacific Games The Pacific Games (French: Jeux du Pacifique), is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from Oceania. The inaugural Games took place in 1963 in Suva, Fiji, and most recently in 2019 in Apia, Samoa. The Games were ...

which is a

multi-sport event A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports among organized teams of athletes from (mostly) nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of interna ...

with participation exclusively from countries in

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...

. Known as the South Pacific Games prior to 2009, the games are currently held every four years. Tuvalu made its first appearance at the

1979 South Pacific Games The 1979 South Pacific Games, held at Suva in Fiji from 28 August to 8 September 1979, was the sixth edition of the South Pacific Games. Participating countries Nineteen Pacific nations or territories attended: Sports There were 18 sports co ...

held in Suva, Fiji.

Telupe Iosefa Telupe Iosefa (born 1 November 1986, in Nukulaelae) is a Tuvaluan powerlifter. In 2015 Telupe Iosefa received the first ever gold medal won by Tuvalu at the Pacific Games in the powerlifting 120 kg male division. Career The Tuvalu Weightlif ...

received the first ever gold medal won by Tuvalu at the

2015 Pacific Games The 2015 Pacific Games, also known as Port Moresby 2015 or POM 2015, was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 4 to 18 July 2015. It was the fifteenth staging of the Pacific Games as well as the third to be hosted in Port Moresby. More tha ...

in the

powerlifting Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximal weight single-lift effor ...

120 kg male division. Tuvalu also participates in the

Pacific Mini Games The Pacific Mini Games is a continental multi-sport event contested by countries and territories located in Oceania. The event has been held every four years since the inaugural games in Honiara, Solomon Islands in 1981. It was known as the Sou ...

, which is a scaled-down version of the main games that enable smaller nations to host events and compete against each other and which is similarly rotated on a four-year basis in the intervening years between the main games.

History of participation by Tuvaluan athletes

A combined

Gilbert and Ellice Islands The Gilbert and Ellice Islands (GEIC as a colony) in the Pacific Ocean were part of the British Empire from 1892 to 1976. They were a protectorate from 1892 to 12 January 1916, and then a colony until 1 January 1976. The history of the colony w ...

team participated at the

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

, and

1971 South Pacific Games The 1971 South Pacific Games, held at Papeete in Tahiti from 25 August to 5 September 1971, was the fourth edition of the South Pacific Games. Approximately 1,500 male athletes and 500 female athletes participated in the games. Participating co ...

. An athlete from Tuvalu (then

Ellice Islands Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situated about midway between Hawaii and Australia. They lie east-northea ...

), namely Nelu Arenga, is at least documented for 1971. Athletes from Tuvalu attended the

2003 South Pacific Games The 2003 South Pacific Games were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003. They are also known as the XII South Pacific Games. The Games were the 12th ''South Pacific Games'' to be held since the event's inception and were the 40th annive ...

for the first time.

Logona Esau Logona Esau (born 2 March 1987 on Nukufetau) is a Tuvaluan weightlifter. Biography He was the first athlete from Tuvalu to win a medal at an international competition, when he took bronze in the 62 kg combined event at the 2005 South Paci ...

was the first athlete from Tuvalu to win a medal at an international competition, when he took bronze at the

2005 South Pacific Mini Games The VII South Pacific Mini Games were held July 25-August 4, 2005 in Palau. Torch lighter was athlete Christopher Silas Adolf, Palau's first Olympian. Participating countries Tahiti and Tokelau did not send teams to the games, with Tahiti cit ...

Koror Koror is the state comprising the main commercial centre of the Republic of Palau. It consists of several islands, the most prominent being Koror Island (also ''Oreor Island''). It is Palau’s most populous state. History In the oral tradition ...

Palau Palau,, officially the Republic of Palau and historically ''Belau'', ''Palaos'' or ''Pelew'', is an island country and microstate in the western Pacific. The nation has approximately 340 islands and connects the western chain of the Caro ...

. Tuvalu competed at the

2007 Pacific Games The 2007 South Pacific Games were held in Apia, Samoa, from 25 August to 8 September 2007. The Games were the thirteenth to be held since the inception of the South Pacific Games in 1963, and included traditional multi-sport event disciplines, su ...

Apia Apia () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Samoa, as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō ...

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

. Tuvalu was ranked 18th equal at the Games, with 2 medals (0 gold - 1 silver - 1 bronze). Tuvalu competed at the

2011 Pacific Games The 2011 Pacific Games (officially known as NC 2011) took place in Nouméa, New Caledonia, from August 27 to September 10, 2011. Nouméa was the 14th host of the Pacific Games. Upon closure of the registration for entries, "some 4,300 athletes" h ...

Nouméa Nouméa () is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia and is also the largest francophone city in Oceania. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, a ...

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

. Tuvalu was ranked 17th at the Games, with 3 medals (0 gold - 2 silver - 1 bronze). At the

2013 Pacific Mini Games The 2013 Pacific Mini Games was the ninth edition of these Mini Games. They were held in Mata Utu in Wallis and Futuna from 2 to 12 September 2013. Participating countries and territories There were 22 nations at the 2013 games: * Note: The M ...

Mata-Utu Mata Utu (; ʻUvean: Matāutu, ) is the capital city of Wallis and Futuna, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located on the island of Uvéa (Uvea), in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. It is one of two ports in Wa ...

Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (; french: Wallis-et-Futuna or ', Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: '), is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji ...

Tuau Lapua Lapua Tuau Lapua Lapua (born 15 April 1991 in Nanumaga) is a Tuvalu Tuvalu ( or ; formerly known as the Ellice Islands) is an island country and microstate in the Polynesian subregion of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. Its islands are situa ...

won Tuvalu's first ever gold medal in an international competition in the weightlifting 62 kilogram male snatch. (He also won bronze in the

clean and jerk The clean and jerk is a composite of two weightlifting movements, most often performed with a barbell: the clean and the jerk. During the ''clean'', the lifter moves the barbell from the floor to a racked position across the deltoids, without res ...

, and obtained the silver medal overall for the combined event.) Tuvalu competed at the

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

. Nakibae Kitisane was the Chef de Mission. Tuvalu was ranked 19th at the Games, with 4 medals (1 gold - 0 silver - 3 bronze).

received the first ever gold medal won by Tuvalu at the Pacific Games in the powerlifting 120 kg male division. Tuvalu competed at the

2017 Pacific Mini Games The 2017 Pacific Mini Games were held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, in December 2017. It was the tenth edition of the Pacific Mini Games, and the second to be hosted in Vanuatu (after the 1993 games). Host selection Vanuatu was awarded the right to h ...

held at

Port Vila Port Vila (french: Port-Vila), or simply Vila (; french: Vila; bi, Vila ), is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. It is located on the island of Efate. Its population in the last census (2009) was 44,040, an increase of 35% on the pr ...

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

, winning 2 medals (0 gold - 1 silver - 1 bronze). The team included

Asenate Manoa Asenate Manoa (born 23 May 1992) is a Tuvaluan track and field athlete who represented Tuvalu at the 2008 Summer Olympics, at the 2009 World Championships & 2011 World Championships and at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Manoa represented Tuvalu in t ...

(women’s long jump), Meauma Petaia (men’s long jump), Imo Fiamalua (men’s javelin throw), Vaiuli Nukualofa (men’s javelin throw), Tupou Koliano, Vaiuli Nukualofa, Meauma Petaia and

Karalo Maibuca Karalo Hepoiteloto Maibuca Junior (born 10 June 1999) is a Tuvaluan sprinter. He is the son of Ratu Karalo Maibuca Senior, a Fijian, and a mother from Kioa. He was selected to compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics and was given the honour of being ...

(men’s 100 metres & 4 x 100 metres relay), Ioane Hawaii (men's table tennis) and Manuila Raobu (men's weightlifting). * Ioane Hawaii participated in the men’s seated singles table tennis event, winning a silver medal. * Manuila Raobu participated in the men’s 62 kg weightlifting snatch event, winning a bronze medal. * The Tuvaluan football team placed 4th in the men’s competition with 2 wins and 3 losses. * Imo Fiamalua placed 8th in the men’s javelin throw event and set a Tuvaluan national record of 53.62 metres. * Tupou Koliano, Vaiuli Nukualofa, Meauma Petaia and

placed 6th in the 4 x 100 m relay and set a Tuvaluan national record of 46.07 seconds. Tuvalu competed at the

2019 Pacific Games The 2019 Pacific Games was the sixteenth edition of the Pacific Games. The Games were held in Apia, Samoa, returning there for the first time since 2007. It was the third time overall that the Pacific Games were held in Samoa. The event was init ...

. Tuvalu was ranked 20th at the Games, with 3 medals (1 gold - 1 silver - 1 bronze).

Pacific Games medals

in Weightlifting at the

: 69 kg Clean & Jerk. * Iliala Fakatokaga in Boxing at the 2007 Pacific Games: Heavy-weight 91 kg division. *

Weightlifting at the 2011 Pacific Games Weightlifting at the 2011 Pacific Games in Nouméa, New Caledonia was held on September 5–7, 2011. Medal summary Medal table Ranking by Big (Total result) medals Ranking by all medals: Big (Total result) and Small (Snatch and Clean & Jerk ...

: 62 kg Clean & Jerk, 62 kg Snatch, 62 kg Total. *

in Powerlifting at the 2015 Pacific Games: 120 kg Male division. *

in Powerlifting at the 2015 Pacific Games: 72 kg Female division. * Teofoga Edueni Sonya Dabwido in Powerlifting at the 2015 Pacific Games: 84 kg Female division. * Harry Dave Eti Esela in Boxing at the 2015 Pacific Games: Heavy-weight 82–91 kg division. * Ioane Hawaii in Table tennis at the 2019 Pacific Games: Men's Seated Singles event. *

in Powerlifting at the 2019 Pacific Games: 120 kg male division. * Fiu Tui in

Boxing at the 2019 Pacific Games Boxing at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa was held on 15–19 July 2019. Participating nations Medal table Medalists Men Women References * Boxing at the Pacific Games References {{Events at the 2019 Pacific Games 2019 2019 P ...

: Men's Middle Weight 75 kg division.

Participation of the Tuvalu national football team

have appeared in the finals of the football competition at the

on four occasions in

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the ''International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the ''Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the song ...

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A des ...

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

and

2011 File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...

History of participation by Tuvaluan athletes

Pacific Games medals

Participation of the Tuvalu national football team

Record

Tuvalu national football team at the 1979 South Pacific Games

Group 2

Quarter finals

Consolation Tournament (5th-12th place)

Semi finals

Tuvalu national football team at the 2003 South Pacific Games

Group A

Tuvalu national football team at the 2007 Pacific Games

Group A

Tuvalu national football team at the 2011 Pacific Games

Group A

Tuvalu national football team at the 2019 Pacific Games

References