Belau Games
Multi-sport event in Palau
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Belau Games | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-sport event |
| Frequency | Biennial |
| Country | Palau |
| Organised by | Palau National Olympic Committee |
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
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
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
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]