The Cook Islands Beach Games may become an annual event ©Getty Images

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee secretary general Owen Lewis hopes the country's Beach Games, due to be held for the first time next week, will become an annual event.

The competition, featuring 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, beach touch rugby and beach handball, is due to start on Monday (January 6) and last until the following Saturday (January 11) at the Beach Courts in Nikao.

Lewis revealed to Cook Islands News. that they had intended to invite overseas teams but left it a bit too late, and that they also planned to repeat the event next year.

"We want this to be something that the public engages in so we want it to be created as a festival, not just as sports," said Lewis. 

The Beach Games organised by Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee will feature four sports ©Facebook
The Beach Games organised by Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee will feature four sports ©Facebook

"There are other things that will be happening at the social centre during that period, we got activities all throughout the week."

The beach touch competition will be held first, followed by beach handball.

Following that, the beach volleyball competition will then be held, with the 3x3 basketball held concurrently at the National Tennis Courts.

Registration for the event was free, with family, business and community teams encouraged to enter.