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PGC aims to expand Aussie, NZ participation
The Pacific Games Council is aiming to expand the roles of Australia and New Zealand in future Pacific Games after the trial they made in the 15th edition of the quadrennial meet hosted by Papua New Guinea.
Australia and New Zealand competed for the first time in Port Moresby but in only four sports—rugby 7s, sailing, taekwondo, and weightlifting.
The PGC unanimously voted last year to allow Australia and New Zealand compete as they believe it would benefit the Pacific Island athletes.
The two sports powerhouse countries in Oceania combined for 67 medals with Australia collecting 17 gold, 19 silver, and 11 bronze to finish sixth in the overall tally. The Kiwis had a 1-9-10 haul with Andrea Kilday winning the lone gold in taekwondo’s women’s -46kg division.
PGC executive director Andrew Mingoue, in an exclusive interview by Saipan Tribune via Skype, said the council is currently reviewing the impact of the participation made by Australia and New Zealand. He added that so far the reviews were positive.
“A report to the members of the PGC will be sent next year and debated at our annual general membership meeting in May. The signs so far are positive that the trial went well and we are looking for opportunities to expand the trial next time in 2019,” Minogue said.
Minogue, in an earlier interview by PNG’s Post Courier and Radio New Zealand, said Australia and New Zealand improved the level of competition in the last Pacific Games.
“Allowing athletes from Australia and New Zealand compete lifted the standards of the Games.”
An example would be the rugby 7s finals between Australia and Fiji where the latter scored a thrilling 12-10 victory.
The International Weightlifting Federation also recognized the Pacific Games’ weightlifting event as a formal qualifier for the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
