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Samoa to host 2019 Pacific Games
The 2019 Pacific Games is heading to Samoa.
“On behalf of president Vidhya Lakhan, I am pleased to announce that the PGC Executive Board has unanimously approved the awarding of the hosting rights for the 2019 Pacific Games to the PGA of Samoa,” PGC executive director Andrew Minogue said in a press statement released last Friday.
Samoa defeated Guam in the battle for the hosting rights and replaced Tonga, which earlier pulled out of its hosting duties citing funding problem, forcing the PGC to solicit expression of interest from other Pacific Games Association members. Tahiti joined Samoa and Guam on the list of PGAs that wanted to bring the Games to their turf.
“The Executive Board assessed that the expression of interest lodged by Samoa was the only one that met all of the criteria, most notably the full financial commitment of the host government, including providing the range of other support services required to stage such an event. This commitment was lacking in the expression of interest lodged by the Tahiti PGA and its candidacy was not explored further via a PGC evaluation visit,” Minogue said.
“The expression of interest lodged by the Guam PGA was excellent and contained the support of the governor. However, an agreement between the governor and the Guam Legislature for a budget appropriation to enable Pacific Games preparations to begin in the upcoming fiscal year could not be reached in the short timeframe available,” he added.
Meanwhile, Northern Marianas Sports Association is looking forward to the Games that will be held in Apia for the third time. Samoa hosted the quadrennial event in 1983 and 2007.
“NMSA congratulates our friends from Samoa and looks forward to competing at the Games in two years time. NMSA also thanks our friends from Guam for their willingness to step forward when the countries and territories of the Pacific needed them,” NMASA president Michael White said.
