Pacific Games. The risk of seeing the two wealthy, developed nations dominate the competition had previously prevented their inclusion. They would be allowed to send participants only in rugby sevens, sailing, taekwondo and weightlifting - sports where other Pacific countries had proved sufficiently competitive against them in the past. In 2019, New Zealand was allowed to compete in men's football with an under-23 squad. List of Pacific Games Editions Sports There are 37 sports approved by the Pacific Games Council, as at December 2017. In accordance with the Pacific Games Charter, a maximum 24 sports shall be contested at the 2023 Pacific Games. Core sports The number of Pacific Games core sports is 17, effective for the 2023 Games. The core sports are required to be included at every edition of the games. Sailing and Triathlon were made core sports in 2016, and Archery was added in 2021. Details for each core sport, up to and including the 2023 games, are presented in the table below: Optional sports There are 20 sports optional for inclusion at a games, as selected by the host nation's organising committee. Details for each optional sport, up to and including the 2019 games, are presented in the table below: Former sports Former sports include rugby 15s (replaced by rugby 7s) and underwater fishing (last contested in 1999). Also included at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games was rugby league 7s (now replaced by rugby league 9s). Notes: The 3x3 format was added as an extra discipline for basketball in 2019 after being included at the Mini Games in 2017. Volleyball and beach volleyball disciplines have been listed as one sport for the purposes of the Games program since some time after the bids for the XV Games (in conjunction with the maximum number of sports being reduced from 28 to 26 for the XVI Games). Netball is a women's competition only. Touch rugby is an optional sport but men's, women's and mixed tournaments must be included if touch rugby is selected. All-time medal table Officially the final medal tally of the Games does not recognize a winner, regarding competition and fair play more highly. Australia and New Zealand were included in the all-time medal count for the first time after the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The table below includes all Games from 1963 to 2019. Nation(s) in italics are defunct PGAs.