Schedule of events for 14th Pacific Games released

The organising committee of the 14th Pacific Games in New Caledonia has released the schedule of events for the quadrennial meet that will take place seven months from now.

Following the opening ceremony on 27th August 2011 at the Stade Numa Daly in Noumea, six other cities will host the 28 competitions in the 15-day event.

Cote Blanche in Noumea will host the nine-day competition in sailing (29th August to 7th September), while golf will be played for four days (31st August to 3rd September). Table tennis' preliminary games will take place at the Salle Omnisports Anse-Vata in Noumea from 31st August to 6th September. The second venue is the Salle Omnisports in Koumac. Lawn tennis will also have two venues-Tennis Ouen Toro in Noumea from 29th August to 8th September and Centre Provincial de Tennis in Kone (29th to 31st August).

Basketball, which will run from 29th August to 9th September will be held at four venues: Salle Omnisports Vallee-du-Tir in Noumea, Salle Omnisports Boewa in Mont-Dore, Salle des sports Paita in Paite, and Salle Omnisports Poindimie in Poindimie. Badminton will also be played in Salle Omnisports Vallee-du-Tir from 5th to 9th September.

Boxing and judo will be held in the same venue-the Salle Omnisports Anse-Vata. The Boxing competition will run from 29th August to 1st September and 5th and 6th September, while judo will take place from 29th August to 3rd September.

The medal-rich sport of athletics, which will run for seven days (3rd to 9th September), will be held at the Stade Numa Daly, along with football. Football will have two three venues-Terrain Football PLGC, and Terrain Football Riviere-Salee, which are both in Noumea, and Terrain Football Hnasse in Lifou. Rugby 7 games will also be played in Terrain Football Riviere-Salee.

Swimming, another event with a slot of medals at stake, will be held at the Centre Aquatique Regional in Dumbea from 30th August to 5th September. Dumbea will also host competitions in karate, taekwondo, and beach volleyball. The open water swim on 5th September will take place at the Base Nautique Ouvea in Ouvea.

Baseball will be held from 29th August to 3rd September and 5th to 8th September in Mont-Dore, which will also host powerlifting, weightlifting, hammer throw, and shooting competitions.

The closing ceremony will take place at the Hippodrome Henri Millard, also located in the capital city of the host nation on 10th September.

For more information go to www.nc2011.nc/

Image: The Vallée d Tir salle omnisport (multisport hall) in Noumea

3rd September 2010 - 12 MONTH COUNTDOWN TO 14TH PACIFIC GAMES