The 2003 South Pacific Games were held in Suva, Fiji from 28 June to 12 July 2003. They are also known as the XII South Pacific Games.The Games were the 12th South Pacific Games to be held since the event’s inception and were the 40th anniversary of their beginnings in 1963. It was also the third time in the event’s history that they had been hosted in Suva. For the first time, the Games included both traditional multi-sport event disciplines such as athletics and swimming together with region-specific and smaller events such as outrigger canoeing, surfing and lawn bowls. Almost 5,000 athletes participated in the Games. Athletics competitions at the 2003 SouthPacific Games were held at the National Stadium in Suva, Fiji, between July 7–12, 2003. A total of 44 events were contested, 23 by men and 21 by women. There were some issues with the eligibility of athletes.Lisa Misipeka and Kelsey Nakanelua, both from American Samoa, were excluded, because due to the games charter, the athletes must have resided in their Country or Territory for at least 5 years. Expatriates must have resided in that Country / Territory for a period of four years immediately prior to the closing date for individual entries. Kristy Slade from Samoa was also found to be ineligible after winning the women’s heptathlon.
Picture: John Lum Kon, won the men’s blue ribbon event and 200m at the 2003 SPG in a time of 10.80s (ht) and a games record run of 21.28s respectively which would later be broken by Niko Verekauta at the 2007 SPG and then later on by Banuve Tabakaucoro in the 2011 SPG.
Overall Medal Tally
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Fiji | 17 | 16 | 17 | 50 |
| 2 | New Caledonia | 11 | 7 | 6 | 24 |
| 3 | Tahiti | 7 | 5 | 5 | 17 |
| 4 | PNG | 5 | 4 | 6 | 15 |
| 5 | Tonga | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Guam | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 7 | Samoa | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | Solomon Islands | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9 | Wallis and Futuna | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Vanuatu | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Cook Islands | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |