The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has endorsed the MSG Games Charter, clearing the way for the inaugural MSG Games to be held in 2029 and establishing a four-year cycle thereafter.
The Charter was endorsed at the 6th MSG Sports Ministers Meeting in Suva on 16 September following the completion of work by a Technical Working Group of MSG senior sports officials.
The draft Charter has been under development for 15 years, with officials working to establish a framework for expanded sporting cooperation across Melanesia.
Opening the meeting, Fiji’s Minister for Youth and Sports and Chair of the MSG Sports Ministers Meeting, Jese Saukuru, called on members to broaden the region’s sporting programme beyond football.
“Let us work together to promote inclusivity, diversity and excellence in sports across our region,” Saukuru said.
He said expanding the range of sporting disciplines would strengthen opportunities for youth and sports development across Melanesia.
MSG Director General Dr Anna Naupa thanked the Technical Working Group for its work in finalising and scrutinising the Charter.
Naupa said the Charter represented an important step in using sport to strengthen regional cooperation and development.
“Sport has long been recognised as a powerful vehicle for promoting unity, healthy lifestyles, youth engagement, social inclusion, and economic development,” Naupa said.
“Beyond competition, sport brings our communities together, fosters mutual understanding, and reinforces the shared values that define the Melanesian family.”
The endorsement on 16 September coincided with Papua New Guinea’s 51st Independence Anniversary.
Papua New Guinea made a significant contribution to the development of the Charter through its participation in the Technical Working Group, represented by PNG Sports Foundation Chief Executive Officer Micah James.
The MSG Games Charter covers 18 sporting disciplines already played across Melanesia, providing a broader platform for regional sporting cooperation and competition.
The inaugural MSG Games in 2029 will mark a new phase in MSG sports development, with subsequent Games to be held every four years.
