The Te Runga Games
The what games? You may be thinking. The Te Runga Games. Quite possibly the most obscure event many readers would have ever heard of. A competition so remote and so unreported, it’s almost a surprise that the small snippets of available information have made it to the World Wide Web.
The What Games?
So, what are the Te Runga Games? Where are the Te Runga Games? Why have I never heard of the Te Runga Games?
Simply put, the Te Runga Games are the Olympics. Not quite on the same stage, of course, but on a level which is arguably more meaningful to its competitors. The games are from the nation of Kiribati. A nation famous for its use of the time zones, but one that is sports mad.
As you would expect, the usual sporting suspects are there, athletics, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. Even a sport I had never heard of in Oreano. A game in which competitors throw a heavy, woven ball at each other. The aim is not to drop the ball or get injured by the weight of it. It is seen as a competition of strength, power and skill. Along with these sports, there is also, for this article, the most important sport, football.
The games are held every four years, with people coming from all over 23 of the atolls of Kiribati. The nation has 33 atolls, but not all are inhabited. However, in 2025, the nation is expected to send many of its athletes to the World Games in Chengdu, China.
The latest rendition of the Te Runga Games was therefore held in 2023. A spectacle for any spectator to see. All competitors from the atolls involved convened on the capital atoll of Tarawa, travelling by boat and by small aircraft. This is no small feat for islands such as Kiribati. The nation consists of just over 132,000 people, and the atolls are stretched over almost 3.5 million km² of ocean.
Te Runga Football
The 2023 Te Runga Games saw the football split into four groups. Groups ‘A’ and ‘B’ are the men’s football teams. Group ‘C’ is the Women’s, and Group ‘D’ is the Youth competition. Well-known teams from around the world, such as Nonouti, Kuria and Tamana blessed Group ‘A’, while giants of the Kiribati games, Butaritari, Maiana and Tabuaeran challenged in Group ‘B’.
Whether the 2023 Te Runga Games were going to be played was up in the air for some time, with the Pacific Games being held at the same time. Kiribati, as a nation, decided that their sporting event was more important to them and therefore decided to stay at home and go forward with the Te Runga Games.
The format for the football competition is simple; 23 men’s teams participated. After the groups, a round of 16 was played, then it worked its way down to a single final. Nothing too extraordinary with the system, but the games themselves are what bring the crowds in.
Kiribati is not a well-known footballing nation. In fact, they are not even FIFA members. They don’t actually hold affiliation with the Oceania Football Confederation. Instead, they have opted to participate in Conifa. Conifa (Confederation of Independent Football Associations) is in place for all associations that are not affiliated with FIFA. It provides a platform for all the unrecognised national teams to come together and play in a ‘World Cup’.
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Kiribati, as a footballing nation, are on the rise. Well, sort of. The nation hasn’t played an official 11-a-side game since 2011, but they did compete in the Outrigger Cup recently held in the Marshall Islands. This was a Futsal tournament and an event Kiribati travelled back from as champions.
The Future Of Kiribati Football
As of 2025, Kiribati has plans to become FIFA and OFC affiliated. An Englishman is steering the ship. Jake Kewley stands as the ambassador and international manager of the Kiribati Football Association.
One of the most recognisable obstacles for Kewley and his team is somewhere to play football. As successful as the Te Runga Games are, and how successful the domestic football leagues and competitions are, the fact is that there are no suitable grass pitches available. The Te Runga Games are predominantly hosted on sand surfaces, unsurprisingly, beach football is more commonly found on the nation’s atolls.
Obstacles
Obviously, without a grass or even an artificial grass pitch available, Kiribati will not be able to complete affiliation to FIFA or the OFC.
A surprise to Kewley and to many readers is that the islands have very limited viewings of national football games. Kewley mentioned in an interview, “They all really enjoyed playing but rarely get to see any actual matches – live games and TV, in general, were limited – but they all seemed to still know of Messi and Ronaldo! Only a few knew of Manchester United or Wayne Rooney, which was surprising given their global reach.”
Plans For Progression
The future of the nation’s football is looking brighter by the day, though. A new shirt was released this year, with all funds going towards the project.
The Kiribati Islands Football Federations (KIFF) want a full-time national team, and reports show that this dream is possibly becoming a reality. The KIFF are looking ot bring the best 24 players from across the islands to the capital of Tarawa, and under the guidance of professional coaches, train together to build a strong and united national team. Plans are to pay the 24 players so they can focus on their development full-time. Being paid to play in Kiribati is unheard of.
The idea of this program is to not only improve the 24 selected players to represent the nation, but also to encourage more islanders to get involved with football. They are creating a pathway into the sport, The KIFF want to send their players to other Oceanic leagues to become better players and help grow the sport of football in Kiribati.
Will we eventually see Kiribati as an affiliated FIFA and OFC member? Maybe, but with the grass pitch situation, maybe not. In the meantime, however, highlights of the 2023 Te Runga games are available online. So, if you want to stump your mates with some unbelievably obscure football knowledge, just ask them if they remember 2013’s memorable 2-2 draw between Abaiang FC and North Tarawa FC.
Written and Researched by BSc Cavan Campbell
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