1997 South Pacific Mini Games

The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games were held at Pago Pago in American Samoa from 11 to 22 August 1997. It was the fifth edition of the South Pacific Mini Games. It was much larger than previous editions, with an almost doubling of the number of medals awarded compared to the 1993 South Pacific Mini Games. The impressive performances by Nauru in weightlifting continued in Pago Pago, with the tiny nation finishing on top of the unofficial medal table after winning 33 gold.

The 1997 Games were criticized for poor preparation by local and international journalists, with Matai Akauo in the Pacific Islands Monthly describing them as "the most disoganised ever in the history of the Pacific Islands Council". Without other means transportation, some athletes had to walk to their venues. However, the games went ahead and the events were able to be completed.

Participating countries
Nineteen Pacific nations participated in the Games:

• 🇦🇸 American Samoa (247)

• 🇨🇰 Cook Islands (145)

• Federated States of Micronesia (11)

• 🇫🇯 Fiji (203)

• 🇵🇫 French Polynesia (125), "Tahiti"

• 🇬🇺 Guam (96)

• 🇰🇮 Kiribati (27)

• 🇳🇷 Nauru (84)

• 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (111)

• 🇳🇺 Niue (33)

• 🇳🇫 Norfolk Island (9)

• Northern Marianas (28)

• 🇵🇼 Palau (72)

• 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea (177)

• 🇼🇸 Samoa (195)

• 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands (76)

• 🇹🇴 Tonga (99)

• 🇻🇺 Vanuatu (38)

• 🇼🇫 Wallis and Futuna (13)

Note: A number in parentheses indicate the size of a country's team.

Sports
The 1997 South Pacific Mini Games hosted eleven sports:

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Note: A number in parentheses indicates how many medal events were contested in that sport.

Final medal table
Nauru topped the medal table due to gold medals won in weightlifting. Fiji won the most overall medals: