Organised under the guidance of the Oceania Judo Union (OJU) and supported by the Palau Judo Federation, the event featured two days of competition, including a team event with four delegations (Australia, Tahiti, Palau, Vanuatu). Australia finished at the top of the medal table, followed by French Polynesia and Guam.
Preparations were intense, with OJU staff and local volunteers ensuring smooth logistics, compliance with IJF refereeing standards and athlete readiness. A refereeing seminar was held prior to the draw, ensuring clarity around the updated rules.
Trindade De Abreu Abédias, OJU Sport Director, highlighted the unique profiles of each team:
- Australia’s youthful team showed great promise.
- Tahiti displayed consistency and experience.
- Nauru stood out with several athletes showing their skills in judo.
- Vanuatu combined young hopefuls and veterans, supported by itinerant judoka Julien Brulard.
- Palau, as host, offered strong performances, buoyed by an enthusiastic local crowd.
- Guam, Kiribati and Tokelau demonstrated ambition and commitment, despite smaller delegations.
Post-competition activities reflected the cultural richness of the Games, with site visits across Babeldaob and the Rock Islands, including a memorable swim with reef sharks. These moments strengthened the bonds between delegations, true to the spirit of the Pacific Mini Games.
The event confirmed both the progress and the development potential of judo across Oceania, offering clear momentum as the region looks ahead to Tahiti 2027 and the LA 2028 Olympic Games.