Participants in Pacific School Games commended

Western Australia can look forward to a bright future in sport, following the excellent performance of a big team of young athletes at the Pacific School Games in Darwin last week.

Education Minister Kay Hallahan, speaking from Darwin today, said that the 208 members of the team won more than 180 medals in athletics, swimming, gymnastics and disabled events during the eight-day games which ended on Saturday.

"The individual performances were personal triumphs but collectively the effort represents a massive improvement compared with previous school games," she said.

"The State Government provided support with a $17,000 contribution through the Ministry of Education and fund-raising also helped to reduce costs.

"Team members still had to find several hundred dollars each to be able to make the trip but 208 young athletes and 22 officials did it which, combined with their performance at the Games, shows significant commitment and great promise for sport in Western Australia."

Mrs Hallahan congratulated the WA School Sports Association which helped select the young athletes and arranged the trip.

She said the young sporting stars drawn from WA secondary schools had to compete with big contingents from all other States and smaller teams from 21 other countries including Canada, China, Japan, Indonesia, Europe and Russia.

Team members, aged between 12 and 18, won more than 50 gold medals, more than 50 silver medals and about 80 bronze medals.

The team included 100 athletes, 60 swimmers, 16 gymnasts and 25 students with disabilities.