POINTERS TO PARADISE:
OPENING CEREMONY GAMES RETROSPECTIVE RAROTONGA SITE MAP HOME
OR FIND YOUR OWN PIECE OF PARADISE USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
OPENING CEREMONY GAMES RETROSPECTIVE RAROTONGA SITE MAP HOME
OR FIND YOUR OWN PIECE OF PARADISE USING THE MENU ON THE LEFT
"We salute all of you - the sports men and women, who joined us in this venture to promote Pacific togetherness and well-being through sport.....Our family of Pacific nations has been strengthened by your contributions, and we share in all your victories"
Jim Marurai, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
Jim Marurai, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands
A celebration of Pacific Islands culture and a spectacular firework display brought the 2009 games to a memorable close
now passes to 2013 hosts, Wallis and Futuna
The flag of the Pacific Games
The official flag of the Pacific Games Council is handed on to Wallis and Futuna
"FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANITY AND PEACE OF THE WORLD"
In declaring the games closed, the Cook Islands Prime Minister told participants, spectators and helpers alike: "May you display cheerfulness and harmony so that the spirit of our Pacific family of nations may be carried out with greater eagerness, courage and honour for the good of humanity and peace of the world."
415 MEDALS
The games ended with 415 medals being awarded. FIJI topped the table with 78 (32 gold, 26 silver and 20 bronze). NEW CALEDONIA were second with 66 (23 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze), and TAHITI third with 59 (21 gold, 22 silver, 16 bronze). THE COOK ISLANDS ended up in fifth place with 45 (15 gold, 13 silver and 17). GUAM, THE MARSHALL ISLANDS and NORTHERN MARIANAS left empty handed. "I don't know how to express it in words but I salute each and every athlete who took part in these mini games. To the medal winners, I congratulate you. But it wasn't just the medalists, it was everyone, even those who did not win medals." Cook Islands Chef de Mission, George George
THE CLOSING CEREMONY
2nd October, 2009
2nd October, 2009
Right: The Games Council flag is lowered marking the end of the 2009 Games
The stills on this page (excluding the fireworks, top centre) are taken from a great video which captures the essense of the closing ceremony. Fireworks photo is from the official games website
And if you're wondering what it was like to be part of that closing ceremony, have a look at this video by the teenagers from the Supporters to Reporters project in Manchester, England. And congratulations to all of them for their efforts throughout the games.
