Belau Games
| Belau Games | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-sport event |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Country | Palau |
| Organised by | Palau National Olympic Committee |
The Belau Games is a multi-sport event held in Palau, organised by the Palau National Olympic Committee. It is competed between the sixteen states of Palau. It has been held in only odd-numbered years since 2007, but has been played in other years before then.[1]
It is known to have been competed as early as 1997.[2]
People of all ages can compete at the Belau Games - in 2021 athletes aged from 4 to 67 years old competed.[3]
As the state with the largest population, Koror has usually been the most successful.
Recent years
[edit]The 2017 Belau Games went ahead despite an epidemic of dengue fever and a severe drought being forecasted.[4] 14 out of 16 state governors had wanted it postponed.[5] It was won by Koror. Five states opted not to compete; they were Kayangel, Ngiwal, Melekeok, Aimeliik and Ngeremlengui.[6] Koror again won in 2019.[7]
Koror won again in 2021[8] and 2023. In 2023, two of the states with the lowest population, Sonsorol and Hatohobei, came 2nd and 3rd.[9]
The 2025 Belau Games have been postponed to 2026 due to budget challenges and clashes with other events.[10]
Sports
[edit]The 15th Belau Games, postponed to 2026, is set to include the following sports:[11]
- Athletics
- Archery
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball (3x3 and 5x5)
- Canoeing
- Judo
- Micro all-around
- Sailing
- Spear fishing
- Table tennis
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Volleyball (indoor and outdoor)
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Former sports
[edit]Football was first played in the Belau Games in 2009, but the first season where results are known is 2011.[12] Football was also planned to be played in the 2007 Belau Games,[13] but in the end it was not held.[14] After a hiatus the sport reappeared in 2017,[6] and was played again in 2019.[15]
Softball has also been played at the Belau Games.[14]
Winners
[edit] |
References
[edit]- ↑ 2006 - "Hatohobei in the Belau Games". www.friendsoftobi.org.
- ↑ Development Plan - Belau Wrestling Foundation (BWF) as of 1/9/2006
- ↑ Times, Island (21 June 2021). "Belau Games 2021, cause of inspiration for athletes".
- ↑ "2017 Belau Games will proceed". 16 June 2017.
- ↑ "Palau's biggest sporting event goes on despite strong political objections". ABC Pacific. 26 June 2017.
- 1 2 3 Staff, Island Times (4 July 2017). "Koror sweeps medals in 11th Belau Games".
- 1 2 Times, Island (25 June 2019). "Koror tops Belau Games 2019".
- 1 2 https://www.facebook.com/plwnoc/posts/-13th-belau-games-2021-medal-tally-final-medal-tally-for-the-gameshttptinyccmeda/324876892603512/
- 1 2 Reklai, Leilani (11 July 2023). "Belau Games 2023 ends with Koror State at the top".
- ↑ Times, Island (26 August 2025). "Governors Postpones Belau Games to 2026, citing Budget strains and event overlap".
- ↑ Times, Island (2 September 2025). "15th Belau Games pushed to 2026, officials urge Athletes to keep training".
- ↑ "Palau 2011". www.rsssf.org.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 22 August 2006.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - 1 2 3 2007 Belau Games - Total Medal Count
- ↑ "Palau 2019". www.rsssf.org.
