The eligibility of athletes will be decided before the Pacific Games rather than during the Games as was the practice in the past.

The eligibility of 1,000 competitors has been challenged by Team Fiji, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Guam and Palau.

The Pacific Games organizing committee said 38 of Samoa's team of 600 are being challenged.

Most challengers have questioned the eligibility of athletes through their residency and passports.

The committee believes everything will be sorted out before the Games starts on 25th of this month.