Featuring two Olympians and a junior world record holder, the weightlifters will form part of the expected 80-strong Australian team competing across eight sports in the Solomon Islands from 19 November to 2 December 2023.

The Pacific Games will see more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 24 nations compete across 24 sports in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara.

Tokyo Olympian Kiana Elliott, junior world-record holder Eileen Cikamatana, Darcy Kay, Brenna Kean, Sarah Cochrane, Jacqueline Nichele and Olivia Kelly will compete in the women's events, while Tokyo Olympian Matthew Lydement, Rory Scott, Oliver Saxton, Kyle Bruce, Leon Vogeler-Schmid and Jackson Roberts-Young will contest the men's events. Alecha Mahoney-Piva, Zoe De Gersigny, Ryven Ewing and William Brown have been named as reserves.

Chef de Mission for the Australian Team at the Pacific Games, Olympic champion kayaker Kenny Wallace, welcomed the announcement.

"Congratulations to each of the athletes selected for this Australian team. The Pacific Games is a fantastic experience, striving alongside our Pacific neighbours in a friendly but competitive multisport environment who are historically world-class performers in weightlifting," Mr Wallace said.

"The Pacific Games offers a great opportunity to perform on the international stage, and I know these athletes will represent Australia, Weightlifting Australia, their clubs, families and supporters with pride.

"For these weightlifters, it's a vital opportunity to earn valuable rankings points to boost their chances of qualifying for Paris 2024.

"Weightlifters' path to Paris qualification is based on world ranking position at 28 April 2024. The Pacific Games is also one of five milestone events, of which weightlifters must attend three of to be eligible for Paris 2024 under the International Weightlifting Federation qualification criteria.

"I look forward to all thirteen lifters contributing to and benefitting from the strong Australian team culture and being positive sporting ambassadors in the biggest multisport event in the Pacific region."

With his experience from competing at three Olympic Games and as Chef de Mission of the Australian Team at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, Wallace knows the impact sport can play.

"Sport has the power to bring people together, and I've seen firsthand how Olympic sport can help foster strong relationships with our Pacific neighbours. I encourage the whole Australian team to make the most of this opportunity," Mr Wallace said.

Twenty-three-year-old Eileen Cikamatana says competition will be fierce in Honiara.

"The best weightlifters in Oceania will be at these Games, and many are highly ranked in the world, so competition will be quite intense for Australia," Eileen said.

"I feel very honoured to make the Pacific Games team representing Australia. The Pacific Games is an important event on my journey to Paris 2024 - my performance here will be recognised towards my rankings in the world for my category and qualification for Paris."

Weightlifting Australia CEO Ian Moir congratulated the team on their selection.

"The Australian Weightlifting section of the 2023 Pacific Games Team has a good mix of experienced and next-generation athletes," Mr Moir said. "The women's team is particularly strong and we're looking forward to good performances across five bodyweight categories in the women's competition.

"There's a lot of weightlifting talent in the Pacific region and the Pacific Games provides Australian weightlifters with a tremendous opportunity to engage in world-class competition. The 2023 edition of the Pacific Games holds even greater importance as a qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."

Australia is expected to send 85 athletes across the sports of Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Beach Volleyball, Judo, Sailing, Taekwondo and Weightlifting. The 2023 Pacific Games offer a direct Paris 2024 qualification opportunity for boxers and the mixed archery team, as well as world ranking points vital for qualification and international experience across other sports.

Solomons 2023 is the third time Australia has participated after first being invited to compete in several sports at Port Moresby 2015.