Team Cook Islands · 2027
Represent the Cook Islands in 2027
Expressions of interest are open for Team Cook Islands at the 2027 Polynesian Athletics Championships in Auckland and the Pacific Games 2027 in Tahiti. One form covers both. Expressions of interest close on Friday 4 December 2026.
Express interest Read the documents
| Polynesian Champs | Pacific Games | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Auckland, New Zealand | Tahiti, French Polynesia |
| When | 11 to 14 March 2027 | Athletics: 31 July to 6 August 2027 |
| Who can apply | All age groups the Championships offer | At least 16 years old by 31 December 2027 |
| Standard | The minimum Cook Islands standard, achieved between 1 January 2026 and 28 February 2027 | The ACI Open standards, results from 1 October 2026 to 15 March 2027 |
| Trials | No separate ACI trials | Optional trials in the Cook Islands, 17 to 20 March 2027 |
| Costs | Self-funded. ACI covers entry fees, uniform and team manager costs | Athlete contribution to be confirmed |
| Expressions of interest close | 4 December 2026 | 4 December 2026 |
Under-18 athletes need a parent or guardian's consent for both teams.
Auckland · March 2027
2027 Polynesian Athletics Championships
A chance to gain international competition experience, lift your performance and compete alongside other Cook Islands representatives.
Who can join
Athletes from all age groups can express interest, as long as the organisers offer their age group and events. You must meet the Cook Islands national representation eligibility requirements and be properly prepared for your events. Under-18 athletes need a parent or guardian's consent.
How selection works
- There are no separate ACI selection trials for this event.
- Send the expression of interest below with your recent competition results, the events you want and your coach's details. The Selection Panel may ask your coach for a recommendation, or ask you for more evidence that you're ready.
- You must have achieved the minimum Cook Islands standard (Schedule B of the General Selection Policy) between 1 January 2026 and 28 February 2027.
- Selection depends on ACI approval, the competition's entry rules, team management capacity, and confirmed funding or self-funding.
Athletics Cook Islands covers
- Entry fees
- Uniform
- Team manager costs
You pay for
- Flights
- Accommodation and meals
- Transport
- Insurance
Athletes selected for the Athletics New Zealand Pacific Project will be fully funded under that programme, subject to confirmation of the costs it covers. Everyone else must be ready to fund their own trip. ACI hasn't yet decided whether travel will be booked centrally (still self-funded) or by each athlete, and will let you know after expressions of interest close. Please don't book non-refundable travel until ACI confirms your place and the arrangements.
Key steps
- Express interest with the form on this page by 4 December 2026.
- Assessment. ACI reviews eligibility, readiness, event entries and capacity.
- Team confirmation. Successful applicants are told in writing, with the funding or payment requirements.
- Preparation. Complete the Athlete Agreement, documents, payments and team preparation.
Heading for the Pacific Games too? The Championships may be useful preparation, but competing there doesn't guarantee Pacific Games selection. A result used for the Pacific Games must meet that event's own selection policy, including its qualifying period.
Polynesian Champs minimum Cook Islands standards
These are the Cook Islands Qualification Standards in Schedule B of the General Selection Policy. You need a result at this standard or better between 1 January 2026 and 28 February 2027. Meeting a standard doesn't guarantee selection. Times are electronic: for hand times add 0.24 seconds to the 100m, 110m hurdles and 200m, and 0.14 seconds to the 400m.
| Event | Women U18 | Women Open | Men U18 | Men Open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100m | 13.70 | 12.70 | 11.95 | 11.40 |
| 200m | 28.00 | 26.50 | 23.90 | 23.10 |
| 400m | 62.00 | 59.00 | 56.00 | 51.50 |
| 800m | 2:30.00 | 2:20.00 | 2:10.00 | 2:03.00 |
| 1500m | 5:10.00 | 5:00.00 | 4:30.00 | 4:14.00 |
| 2000m steeplechase | 8:25.00 | 7:44.00 | ||
| 3000m steeplechase | 13:00.00 | 11:00.00 | ||
| 3000m | 11:00.00 | 10:00.00 | ||
| 5000m | 22:30.00 | 16:50.00 | ||
| 10000m | 42:00.00 | 35:00.00 | ||
| 100m hurdles | 19.00 | 17.00 | ||
| 110m hurdles | 17.00 | 17.00 | ||
| 400m hurdles | 76.00 | 68.00 | 68.00 | 60.00 |
| 5000m walk | 35:00.00 | 34:00.00 | 30:30.00 | 30:00.00 |
| 10000m walk | 62:00.00 | 56:00.00 | ||
| Long jump | 4.90m | 5.00m | 6.00m | 6.20m |
| Triple jump | 10.00m | 11.00m | 11.20m | 13.00m |
| High jump | 1.50m | 1.60m | 1.70m | 1.85m |
| Pole vault | 2.40m | 3.00m | 2.70m | 3.40m |
| Discus | 28.00m | 35.00m | 36.00m | 40.00m |
| Hammer | 30.00m | 32.00m | 30.00m | 40.00m |
| Javelin | 30.00m | 35.00m | 43.00m | 45.00m |
| Shot put | 11.00m | 12.00m | 12.00m | 13.20m |
Questions about the Polynesian Champs: Marie William, Program Manager, manager@athleticscookislands.org, or Simone Fe'ao, President, president@athleticscookislands.org.
Tahiti · July and August 2027
Pacific Games 2027
ACI invites eligible athletes, including Cook Islands athletes living overseas, to express interest in representing Team Cook Islands at the Pacific Games 2027. The whole Cook Islands delegation is expected to include more than 150 athletes across all sports. ACI expects to nominate about 10 to 15 athletics athletes, a planning estimate rather than a guaranteed number.
Who can apply
- You must be at least 16 years old by 31 December 2027.
- You must meet Cook Islands national representation eligibility, and any Pacific Games and CISNOC requirements.
- You must be in good standing with ACI, available for team travel and competition, medically fit to prepare, travel and compete, and willing to meet the team's training, conduct and admin requirements.
- Athletes under 18 need a parent or guardian's approval.
How selection works
- Send the expression of interest by 4 December 2026, with your events, current results, coach's details and the competitions where you plan to get qualifying results. That list isn't final: you can send results from other suitable competitions later.
- Qualifying results must come from properly officiated competitions between 1 October 2026 and 15 March 2027, with official results that can be checked. Competitions on the Athletics Cook Islands, Athletics New Zealand, Athletics Australia or Oceania Athletics calendars may be considered, as may other recognised meets the Selection Panel accepts.
- For each result, give the event, mark, date, competition, venue and a link to the official results, plus timing, wind and implement details where they matter.
- Optional trials will be held in the Cook Islands from 17 to 20 March 2027. You don't have to go if you have acceptable results from other competitions, but every athlete needs either an eligible result in the qualifying period or a valid result at the trials. Trial results will also be considered.
- The Selection Panel looks at performance, competitiveness, current form, fitness, preparation, team balance and available places, against the ACI Open qualifying standards. Meeting a standard or going to a trial doesn't guarantee selection.
- The ACI Board approves nominations, and CISNOC confirms the final Team Cook Islands.
Important dates
| 1 October 2026 | Qualifying results period opens |
|---|---|
| 4 December 2026 | Expressions of interest close |
| 15 March 2027 | Qualifying results period closes |
| 17 to 20 March 2027 | Optional Cook Islands trials |
| By 31 March 2027 | Target date for final team confirmation |
| 31 July to 6 August 2027 | Pacific Games athletics, Tahiti |
If you're selected
You'll need to accept selection, sign the Athlete Agreement, send your passport and other documents, meet the payment deadlines and follow the agreed preparation programme. The athlete contribution and travel arrangements aren't confirmed yet. Under the General Selection Policy, the first $300 is paid within 48 hours of selection unless ACI sets out a different arrangement for this event. Athletes may also be responsible for visas, personal spending, and costs that can't be recovered if they withdraw. Appeals must be made in writing within 48 hours of the team announcement.
Pacific Games ACI Open qualifying standards
These are minimum benchmarks for consideration, not automatic selection. Times are electronic: for hand times add 0.24 seconds to the 100m, 110m hurdles and 200m, and 0.14 seconds to the 400m. Implement, wind and event rules must be met.
| Event | Women Open | Men Open |
|---|---|---|
| 100m | 12.70 | 11.40 |
| 200m | 26.50 | 23.10 |
| 400m | 59.00 | 51.50 |
| 800m | 2:20.00 | 2:03.00 |
| 1500m | 5:00.00 | 4:14.00 |
| 3000m steeplechase | 13:00.00 | 11:00.00 |
| 5000m | 22:30.00 | 16:50.00 |
| 10000m | 42:00.00 | 35:00.00 |
| 100m hurdles | 17.00 | |
| 110m hurdles | 17.00 | |
| 400m hurdles | 68.00 | 60.00 |
| 5000m walk | 34:00.00 | 30:00.00 |
| 10000m walk | 62:00.00 | 56:00.00 |
| Long jump | 5.00m | 6.20m |
| Triple jump | 11.00m | 13.00m |
| High jump | 1.60m | 1.85m |
| Pole vault | 3.00m | 3.40m |
| Discus | 35.00m | 40.00m |
| Hammer | 32.00m | 40.00m |
| Javelin | 35.00m | 45.00m |
| Shot put | 12.00m | 13.20m |
Questions about the Pacific Games: president@athleticscookislands.org.
Documents
The approved documents
Approved by the Athletics Cook Islands Board in October 2026. Please read them before you send your expression of interest.
Pacific Games 2027: athlete information
Download → (PDF, opens in a new tab)Pacific Games 2027: athletics selection policy
Download → (PDF, opens in a new tab)ACI General Selection Policy
Download → (PDF, opens in a new tab)Who can represent the Cook Islands
Schedule A of the General Selection Policy follows World Athletics rules. You must be a Cook Islands citizen through being born in the Cook Islands or having a parent or grandparent born there, having lived in the Cook Islands for at least 3 years in a row, or being a Cook Islands Permanent Resident. ACI will ask for official documents that show this. Not sure? Read Can I compete for the Cook Islands?
Expression of interest
Put your hand up for Team Cook Islands
One form for both teams. It closes on Friday 4 December 2026.
Meitaki ma'ata, we've got your expression of interest. We've emailed you a copy of the next steps. Check your junk folder if it hasn't arrived in a few minutes.
Something was missing. Please check every question marked with a star, tick at least one team and one event, and send it again.
The Pacific Games need athletes who are at least 16 by 31 December 2027. Please check your date of birth, or untick the Pacific Games, and send it again.
We need a parent or guardian's consent. You'll be under 18 at the competition, so please fill in the parent or guardian section and tick their consent box.
Questions? Email president@athleticscookislands.org.