The Pacific Mini Games 2025 are approaching, scheduled to take place in Palau from June 29 to July 9. This major event will gather over 1,500 athletes representing 24 nations, competing across 14 sports. Both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball are included in the Games` program, with FIVB Volleyball Empowerment playing a crucial role by providing financial assistance to many of the participating teams.
Nineteen of the nations competing are members of the Oceania Volleyball Zonal Association and are beneficiaries of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. So far, the program has allocated a combined total of USD 2.83 million to these countries. This funding supports national teams through coaching, essential volleyball and beach volleyball equipment, and knowledge transfer projects aimed at development.
Specifically, Palau, the host nation for the 2025 Games, has received substantial support. Their national volleyball federation has been granted USD 120,000 for equipment for both disciplines, USD 42,000 for high-performance coaching for their national teams, and an additional USD 6,000 for a program focused on volleyball referee development. Furthermore, the FIVB, through Volleyball Empowerment, is providing key infrastructure for the matches, including a Gerflor court floor for indoor games, nets, net systems, and official volleyballs.
This comprehensive assistance is part of the FIVB`s broader commitment to supporting the host country. The goal is to help enhance performance levels and ensure a significant, lasting legacy for volleyball development within Palau. This substantial support is expected to be a major factor in the successful staging of the Mini Pacific Games.
The beach volleyball competition at Palau 2025 will feature 16 men`s teams and 14 women`s teams, representing a total of 19 different federations. Matches on the sand will begin on July 2, with the medalists determined on July 8 after the third-place playoffs and finals. Notably, 14 of the 30 participating duos come from countries whose federations receive support from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment.
For indoor volleyball, the courts will host 10 men`s and nine women`s teams. Six of these 19 teams are also beneficiaries of the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. The teams are divided into two single round-robin pools for each gender. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals, while the third and fourth-placed teams will compete in playoffs to determine standings from fifth to eighth place. Volleyball action kicks off on June 30 and concludes with the gold medal matches on July 8.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood