Latest News

Alex pulls gold from the cold

In the last day of the 2011 Arafura Games International Surf Lifesaving  full story...

Tears flow as Aceh takes gold

Aceh players shed tears of joy, while Darwin players were devastated after  full story...

PNG score volleyball Gold again

In a rematch of the 2009 Arafura Games volleyball finals the Papua  full story...

Course record but no Gold

Gold Coast golfer Courtney Massey broke the women’s course record at Darwin  full story...

Arafura Games brings out weightlifting best

Nauru’s Itte Detanamo opened a new chapter in weightlifting history by breaking  full story...

Gardiner and Barker claim marathon Gold

The 2011 Arafura Games half marathon took athletes through Darwin’s East Point  full story...

Logo and Name

arafura games logoThe Arafura Games' logo, with its flag motifs, was developed to represent the coming together of competitors throughout the Asia Pacific region. The region centres on the Arafura Sea, the body of water joining Northern Australia and South East Asia.

The name of the Arafura Sea comes from the Portuguese mare aurifera, meaning sea of gold. The name dates back to 1623, when shipwrecked Portuguese were said to have seen gold-studded quartz on the coast of Arnhem Land.

The four vibrant colours used in the Arafura Games' logo combine the cool turquoise of the Arafura Sea, the glowing sun which shines above, the strong ochres of the Northern Territory's earth and the welcoming blue of the skies.