The South Pacific Games was proposed in the South Pacific Conference in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea in 1959. Dr A H Sahu Khan of Fiji was the main supporter of the games. In 1962, the South Pacific Commission founded the South Pacific Games. The main aim behind it is to generate bonds of kindred friendship and brotherhood amid people of the Pacific countries through sporting inter-relation without any discrimination as to race, religion, or politics. The Games was to guarantee the competent promotion and expansion of sports amongst the South Pacific nations and their people.
The first South Pacific Games took place in Suva, Fiji in the year 1963. A large number of the competitive island nations used the flags or anthems of either the British or French with the exemption of Samoa. There were 770 competitors and officials from 12 countries who marched into the stadium. Among them, the largest group was the Fiji contingent including 187 athletes and officials. The game is held every four years in amity to celebrate its spirit. The changeable and even widespread sports program has been developed over forty years.
The 11th South Pacific Games held in Suva, Fiji in 2003. In that year, there was seen for the first time the opening of a full program of 32 sports. The XIII Pacific Games took place in 2007 and was hosted in Apia, Samoa. It was counted 13th to have been held since 1963. From that time onwards, the game carried on the standards of 2003 Suva games and it brought to life the real Pacific spirit of the games. There were 4,000 participants, 32 sporting events and 22 Pacific Island nations participated in the event. Regardless of all the changes, the everlasting spirit of sport and cultural amity through sports has been the spirit of the games. The 14th South Pacific Games will be held in 2011 at Noumea in New Caledonia.