The Arafura Games began in 1991 and were known as the Arafura Sports Festival until the 1997 edition. The games are held in May every other year in the northern Australian coast city of Darwin, and welcome athletes from some 30 countries from around the Pacific Ocean.

Games were planned for May of 2003, but worldwide concern over the SARS virus forced organizers to cancel the games.

The games recovered successfully in 2005.

The next games are scheduled for 2007.

December 9, 2003

Arafura Games organizers, determined to bring the Arafura Games back to full strength in 2005, are working hard at promoting the games, inside Australia and around the Arafura Sea.  

After seven successful editions of the games since 1991, the 2003 games were cancelled over fears that the SARS outbreak could reach pandemic proportions.  

Assistant Director for the games, Adrian Curry recently traveled to Japan for ten days to promote the games, and Northern Territory Minister for Sport and Recreation, Mr. John Ah Kit, visited Sri Lanka and the SEA Games in Vietnam

Japan is expecting to send about 250 athletes to the 2005 Arafura Games, some four times the amount Japan has sent to any prior games.

Organizers are always looking for new sponsors. Take a look at the games web site http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au or contact the games sponsorship manager 

Mr. Les Garraway, Free call in Australia, 1800 672 219

The 2005 Games are scheduled for May 14-21

Arafura Games to make 2005 comeback

November 1, 2005

Planners in Darwin, Australian are working hard to make sure the 2005 Arafura Games are a success after the cancellation of the 2003 event. The 2003 games were canceled at the last minute over fears of the uncertainty of the SARS virus and its possible spread.

Over the past two months Darwin has hosted meetings with the heads of delegations from possible participating nations to communicate plans for the 2005 games which are scheduled for May 14-21.

The planners discussed the Arafura Games Charter, which now provides for a National Indigenous Development team, a team made up of aboriginal athletes from around Australia, to compete together as a team.

The meetings also discussed increasing opportunities for disabled athletes to compete in the games, and the possibility of American collegiate teams participating in the games.

Games organizers also said that they plan to continue hosting the games in Darwin in 2007, 2009, 2011 and beyond.

Darwin will host Festival of Athletics in lieu of Arafura Games

May 03, 2003

Australia's Northern Territory Athletics, seeking to salvage something from the 2003 Arafura Games plans, have decided to hold a three day track meet May 18-20.

A team from New Zealand will be participating against athletes from several Australian territories. 

The games were canceled after SARS concerns had affected entry levels.

Arafura Games Canceled over SARS fears

April 22, 2003

Despite several weeks of comments that indicated, "the games will go on" the Northern Territory government has very quickly reversed course and announced the cancellation of the 2003 Arafura Games. Some sources indicate that this may be a postponement and new dates for the games may be announced, but this has yet to be confirmed.

The games have been held every other year in May without a break since 1991 when they were first known as the Arafura Sports Festival.

The SARS epidemic had put a damper on games preparations, with registrations falling below expectations. The Malaysian delegation had already canceled, and two sports, judo and surf lifesaving had been dropped from the schedule. This is the first international event in Australia to be canceled due to SARS.

The decision was difficult for games organizers, and will negatively impact the economies of Darwin and the Northern Territory. The 2001 games had an estimated 5.13 million Australian dollar impact on Darwin's economy.

Several health authorities and health workers had recently expressed strong concerns over hosting the games in Darwin.

SARS putting a damper on games plans

April 22, 2003

The Arafura Games, Special Olympics World Games and South East Asian Games are all dealing with the effects of the worldwide SARS flu epidemic

The Arafura Games organizers have stated for several weeks that the games will be closely monitored, but there are no plans to cancel the games.

However, in the April 23 Northern Territory newspaper (already posted on the 22nd), a retired doctor in Darwin is suggesting that the games be postponed and that inviting athletes from any effected nations is not a wise thing to do. Health workers in Darwin have also expressed their concerns.

The Malaysian team has already pulled out of the Arafura Games and the sports of surf-lifesaving and judo have already been canceled as their levels of entries had been affected by the virus.

Organizers of the Special Olympics World Games, to be held in Dublin, Ireland are also monitoring the situation closely, with Dublin health experts gathering to discuss the issues involved.

Some athletes from affected countries may be asked to stay home, but Special Olympics Chief Executive Mary Davies said "There is no threat that the games will be canceled or postponed."

Though much further out, there has already been talk of postponing the SEA Games which are currently scheduled to be held in Vietnam in December because of the number of participating nations that are experiencing SARS cases.

SARS to Cancel Games?

April 9, 2003

Numerous sports events, including the Women's Ice Hockey World Championships have been canceled in light of the SARS epidemic spreading to various parts of the world.

Organizers of the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, have said that they are monitoring the system very closely.

So far, they have decided to go forward with the games, but the games may be reduced to limit participation from areas heavily affected by the SARS outbreak.