The 2025 Pacific Mini Games are scheduled to take place in Palau from June 29 to July 9. This major event will bring together over 1,500 athletes from 24 nations, competing across 14 different sports. Both beach volleyball and indoor volleyball are prominent fixtures in the Games program, and the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment initiative is poised to play a crucial role, providing essential support to many of the participating teams.
Nineteen of the nations participating in the Games, all members of the Oceania Volleyball Zonal Association, benefit from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. This program has, to date, allocated a combined total of USD 2.83 million to these countries. This funding covers coach support for national teams, provision of volleyball and beach volleyball equipment, and various knowledge transfer projects aimed at developing the sport.
The volleyball federation of Palau, as the host nation for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, has received significant dedicated support through the program. This includes USD 120,000 for volleyball and beach volleyball equipment, USD 42,000 for high-performance coach support for their national teams, and an additional USD 6,000 dedicated to a knowledge transfer program focused on volleyball referee development. Indoor volleyball matches during the Games will be played on a Gerflor floor provided by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment. The FIVB has also supplied other key infrastructure, such as nets, net systems, and official match balls.
This targeted assistance is part of the FIVB`s broader strategy to support the host country, aimed at enhancing performance levels and ensuring a sustainable legacy for the sport. Such comprehensive support is expected to significantly contribute to the overall success of the Mini Pacific Games and leave a lasting positive impact on volleyball development within Palau.
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. The contests on the sand are set to begin on July 2, with the medal winners determined on July 8, following the third-place matches and the finals. Notably, 14 out of the 30 participating pairs hail from countries whose federations are beneficiaries of FIVB Volleyball Empowerment support.
For the indoor volleyball tournaments, ten men’s teams and nine women’s teams will compete. Six of these 19 teams are also supported by the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program. In both genders, participating teams will be divided into two single round-robin pools. The top two teams from each pool will advance directly to the semifinals. Teams finishing third and fourth in their pools will participate in playoffs to determine final standings from fifth to eighth place. Indoor volleyball action commences on June 30 and will conclude with the gold medal matches on July 8.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood