SUNDAY marks the official opening of the historical Sol2023 Pacific Games and it was a remarkable event for the host city and everyone who has witnessed the colourful event.
The official opening of the games was staged at the China-funded grand new National Stadium in East Honiara and more than 5000 athletes and officials paraded through the stadium, waving their respective country’s flag high and more than 10,000 people witnessed the ceremony.
Athletes from all the breadth and width of the pacific poured into Honiara to compete in the major event.
This year’s Pacific Games was the first ever to be hosted by Solomon Islands since its inception in 1963 and for Solomon Islanders in particular, this was a historical moment that will be long cherished.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare officially declared the games open and handed the event over to the athletes to begin their competitions.
Athletes from 24 countries/territories from across the Pacific are participating in the games.
Prime Minister Sogavare also highlighted the theme of the games – Challenge, Celebrate, Unite – in his speech and urged the athletes to challenge themselves in the games whilst celebrating our pacific diversity to unite our region.
The Pacific region is a multiracial community in which its people are united by the same ocean as brothers and sisters and the theme of this year’s games is a call for regional unity and harmony through sports.
The games are here on our shores and the theme also calls on Solomon Islanders as the citizens of the host nation to give the best experience to our brothers and sisters from all over the Pacific to remain unites as one people.
By IAN LADDS
Solomon Star, Honiara
