New host, same schedule for 2019 Pacific Games

Saipan Swim Club’s Kento Akimaru leads a Palau swimmer in the 200m butterfly race of the 2017 SSC International Meet held at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. Swimming is among the compulsory sports in the 2019 Pacific Games that will be held in Apia, Samoa. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Though the 2019 Pacific Games has a new host in Samoa, the proposed dates and events as agreed when Tonga was initially awarded the hosting rights will stay.

Pacific Games Council executive director Andrew Minogue, in a press statement, said the quadrennial meet may still be held from July 8 to 20, while 26 sports will be contested in the Games. Fourteen sports are compulsory and these include athletics, boxing, basketball, golf, swimming, table tennis, tennis, va’a (outrigger canoe racing), volleyball (indoor and beach), judo, taekwondo, weightlifting, football and rugby sevens (for men only). Samoa, being the host, will choose the remaining eight, but bodybuilding, hockey, and surfing are already excluded, while badminton and squash maybe considered. 3×3 basketball is also on the list and is included in the basketball program.

As for the cost to participate in the 2019 Pacific Games, the host will charge $35 per diem for each delegate (athletes and officials). The amount was the same per diem offered by Tonga when it won the bid for the hosting rights of the competition in October 2012.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Games Council Executive Board is confident that Samoa will stage another successful Pacific Games in 2019.

“The sporting facilities are all in place and the full and financial support of the Samoan Prime Minister and their government gave the Samoan PGA’s bid the winning edge. We all look forward to returning to Apia in 2019. In the meantime, PGC expects to sign the Games host agreement with the Samoan PGA and government in the next 10 days,” Minogue said.

NMASA meeting tomorrow
Sports federations that will send athletes to the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu are required to attend the Northern Marianas Sports Association monthly meeting this Thursday at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium at 7pm.

NMSA president Michael White will discuss with the concerned sports groups the travel subsidy for athletes and coaches going to the Games that will run from Dec. 4 to 15. White is asking golf, rugby, athletics, and basketball (3×3) associations to also turn it brief reports about their team selection and training for the Mini Games. The NMASA head is reminding, too, these federations to submit the requirements for accreditation on or before Sept. 30.

“For people who have previously been accredited for a Pacific Games, all I need is a name. For others, I need a copy of the business page of the passport and a scannable passport-size color photo on a white background, no hat,” White said.