PGC: Samoa strong candidate

The Pacific Games Council was impressed to see Samoa’s readiness to host the 2019 Pacific Games with its sports facilities well maintained and the government together with the private sector in full support of their bid to bring the quadrennial event to Apia.

Samoa, Guam, and French Polynesia volunteered to shoulder the hosting of the 2019 Games after Tonga withdrew early this year due to their financial situation and the concern of the cost in maintaining the sports facilities after the sporting event.

Apia was the council’s first stop where they toured the sports facilities and met with sports and government officials as well as business leaders. PGC president Vidhya Lakhan and chief executive officer Andrew Minogue led the three-day evaluation.

Lakhan said the council was “very impressed” in seeing the facilities used during Samoa’s hosting of the 2007 Pacific Games and the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games are well maintained and only require minimal repairs.

“These relatively recent major Games also mean that Samoa’s sports federations have the degree of competence and experience necessary to deliver a large scale event like the 2019 Games in a short space of time,” said Lakhan during the media conference.

He added Samoa presented a strong case of its willingness to bring the Games back to Apia. “Samoa has presented a very strong expression of interest to host the 2019 Pacific Games. [Samoa] has demonstrated during our visit that they have the facilities and capability required to deliver a successful Games in a short period of time.”

“The full and financial support of the Samoan government adds the vital component of stability and certainly that the PGC is seeking in the wake of the Tongan government’s withdrawal as Games host.”

The council held separate meetings with the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee Inc. board led by its president Patrick Fepuleai, and Samoa Prime Minister Tuilapea Sailele Malielegaoi, Finance Minister Sili Epa Tuioti, and Education, Sports and Culture Minister Afioga Loau Keneti Sio.

The council said the Samoan government gave the assurance to fully support the Games especially on the financial side if ever they were awarded the hosting rights of the 2019 Games.

The council also met with the heads and representatives of the sports proposed for the 2019 Games, Samoa’s Attorney General for the draft of the host contract, and business leaders of companies that have a regional profile. They also toured the proposed competition venues and housing of the athletes.

The council then head to Port Vila in Vanuatu for a meeting with the chefs de mission for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games set in December. They resume the evaluation process by also conducting separate visits to Guam and Tahiti. They plan to announce the host of the 2019 Games later this month or in the first week of September.