The judging panel chose 24-year-old Shing, who carried the Vanuatu flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympics, for the Best Male award following his haul of four gold medals from the four events he competed in at the event on home soil.

Olympian Firisua, who won three golds at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, was chosen after winning three gold medals in the 10 kilometres, 5km and half marathon disciplines in Port Vila.

The Young Female award was won by Fiji's Eileen Cikamatana following her three gold medals in weightlifting, where she also set new Commonwealth and Oceania records.

Tennis player Clement Mainguy won the Young Male award after helping Vanuatu to the gold medal.

New Caledonia's Gregory Panne won Coach of the Games after his karate team won 14 of the 16 medals on offer.

Panne won the award over Samoa's Stephen Betham, whose rugby sevens side shocked favourites Fiji in the final of the competition.

The Team of the Games prize was taken by the female golf team from New Caledonia, who, despite having a team made up of junior athletes, claimed the gold medal in their event.

Before the Closing Ceremony, where the awards took place, there was a final day of sporting competition in which hosts Vanuatu clinched the gold medal in the men's football following a 3-2 victory over the Solomon Islands in the final.

The boxing titles were also decided on the final day with nine of the ten titles on offer being won by athletes from either Vanuatu or Samoa.

Tonga's John Barry Slade Moleni won the remaining gold medal in the welterweight 69 kilogram category, beating Andrew Kape Aisaga of Papua New Guinea in the final.