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Pacific Games prep moving forward
The Apia Park Stadium will be the main hub of the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. (Samoa Pacific Games Photo)
The organizing committee of the 2019 Pacific Games reported that significant progress was made as far as preparations for the hosting of the event in Apia, Samoa are concerned.
On top of the list was the designation of the Athletes Village. Majority of the athletes and team officials will be staying at the Methodist Church of Samoa Faleula Compound, which has several big houses that could accommodate the more than 2,000 delegates to the Games. Other officials will be staying in hotels.
The organizing committee, headed by Samoa Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Loau Keneti Sio, also named the directors of the various departments that will ensure the success of the Games. Chosen as directors were Samau Etuale Sefo (transport); Klaus Stunzner (brand); Iuli Moefa’auo Salale Moananu (venues); Leasiosiofa’asisina Oscar Malielegaoi (finance); Fuiavailili Egon Keil (security); Taupau Alex Mikaele (sports services manager); and Falefata Hele Matatia (Pacific Games Office).
Besides the designation of the Athletes Village and department heads, the local organizing committee managed to upgrade venues, secure sponsorships, and finalize the sports program, too, before 2019 or a little over seven months before the Games kick off. The quadrennial event will run from July 7 to 20.
The Apia Park Stadium will be the main hub of this year’s Pacific Games, as it will host the opening and closing ceremonies, the medal-rich athletics competition, rugby 7s, and rugby 9s. Tennis and beach volleyball will also be held in Apia Park, while basketball (3×3 and 5×5), powerlifting, football, cricket, table tennis, weightlifting, golf, and touch rugby will be played in Faleata.
The CNMI will only compete in weightlifting, tennis, rugby 7s, golf, swimming, athletics, 3×3 basketball, canoe, and badminton.
