The Arafura Games is a leading international sporting competition for emerging champions of the Asia Pacific region. Held every two years in Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, the Arafura Games is billed as a meeting of Sporting Neighbors’ and attracts developing athletes from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The 2007 Arafura Games were a great success with good attendances from Australia and some overseas countries.

The spectacular opening ceremony was attended by the Northern Territory Chief Minister, NT Minister for Sport, President of International Paralympics Council, President of ILS, President of Surf Life Saving Australia Ron Rankin etc.

The opening featured lifesavers in the Year of the Surf Life Saver and the press the following day gave great credit to The Year of the Surf Life Saver.

The events were well run by life saving officials and excellent attendance of over 700 spectators at the opening of the beach events on Mindil Beach.

Hong Kong won the gold medal points score followed by Northern Territory and NSW Indigenous team winning Bronze. There were also teams from China, Singapore universities, Singapore, Hong Kong universities, South Australia, RLSS Australia, etc.

The Aussie Junior Barra’s team performed extremely well at the Arafura Games winning the pool section of the competition with a total score of 259 points.

The ILS President presented the trophies and medals at the closing ceremony on the beach. All the overseas teams had a great time mixing with the Australian and indigenous teams.

The ILS President was invited by the Chief Minister to attend a photo season for Heads of Delegations at the Parliament House on the Wednesday followed by a luncheon at the Parliament House were he was informed that lifesaving was one of the best organised sports but that it needs at least one more overseas country to secure its position for the next Games.