The 6th MSG Sports Minister’s Meeting held in Suva on 16 September 2026 at the Fiji Sports Council Boardroom, Suva have endorsed the MSG Games Charter. This is after the Technical Working Group, comprised of MSG Senior Sports Officials have finalized the draft charter since its inception fifteen years ago. The endorsement of the MSG Games Charter paves the way for the inaugural MSG Games to be held in 2029 with a four-year cycle thereafter.
In his opening remarks, the Minister for Youth and Sports in Fiji and Chair of the MSG Sports Minister’s Meeting, Hon. Jese Saukuru urged members to, ‘focus on finalising our MSG Sports Charter and expanding our sports beyond just football. Let us work together to promote inclusivity, diversity and excellence in sports across our region’. This statement by the Hon. Minister captured the vision of MSG leaders to include other sporting disciplines in the MSG sporting development programme. This is an important pathway for youth and sports development in Melanesia.
The MSG Director General, Dr Anna Naupa expressed her sincere appreciation to the Technical Working Group for their commitment and technical expertise in scrutinizing the draft MSG Games Charter. Dr Naupa highlighted the significance of the MSG Games Charter to sports development in Melanesia and stated that ‘sport has long been recognized as a powerful vehicle for promoting unity, healthy lifestyles, youth engagement, social inclusion, and economic development. Beyond competition, sport brings our communities together, fosters mutual understanding, and reinforces the shared values that define the Melanesian family’.
The endorsement of the MSG Games Charter on 16 September 2026 coincided with the 51st Independence Anniversary of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This alignment is particularly fitting, given Papua New Guinea’s significant contribution to the drafting of the Charter through its active membership and valuable input within the Technical Working Group through the PNG Sports Foundation, represented by CEO Micah James.
The MSG Games Charter includes 18 sporting disciplines already played across Melanesia, providing a broader platform for regional sporting cooperation.
