Boxing athlete Wendell Stanley will lead the New Zealand Team into the Closing Ceremony of the Solomon Islands 2023 Pacific Games as flagbearer, as the event draws to a close.
Stanley won silver in the men's 71kg division as the New Zealand team finished its campaign in Honiara.
“The Games have been unbelievable. To be named as Flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony is amazing. I wasn’t born in New Zealand but it’s adopted me from a young age. I’m grateful for the opportunity to wear this flag, and I’m very proud to fight for this flag,” said Stanley.
45 athletes represented New Zealand at the Games, competing across archery, athletics, boxing, Para table tennis and weightlifting.
The team performed exceptionally, winning a total of 45 medals including 10 gold. The medal tally by sport is:
Weightlifting: 7x Gold, 5x Silver, 9x Bronze
Archery: 1x Bronze
Table Tennis: 1x Silver
Athletics: 3x Gold, 6x Silver, 2x Bronze
Boxing: 5x Silver, 6x Bronze
5,000 athletes from 24 countries competed at the Games which were held between 19 November and 2 December in the Solomon Islands.
New Zealand Team Chef de Mission, Olympian, Nin Roberts commended the Solomon Islands' hosting and highlighted the Games' significance in fostering connections among Pacific nations.
"The connections formed among athletes from diverse sports have been inspiring. Beyond the medals, the shared experiences and cultural exchanges we've been part of have been really special and have showcased the essence of these Games," said Roberts.
"I'm really proud of our athletes and our wider team. We've had a fantastic culture and everyone has represented New Zealand with pride and passion."
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