2019 Pacific Games

Schools in Samoa from primary level to high schools have adopted a country from the 24 nations participating in the Games.

There’s also a competition for schools with three categories.

The first is for the school environment that best depicts the spirit of the Pacific Games or the Greening of the Games, making them environmentally more sustainable. The second category is for the best cheers in support of the adopted country. The final category is for poster design.

A group of 11 sponsors have signed agreements with the Pacific Games due to take place between July 7 and 30 in Apia. 

The sponsors come from the private and public sectors, as well as state-owned organisations.

Digicel Samoa, Commercial Bank, Samoa Shipping Corporation and No 1 Currency are among the sponsors.

The portfolio also includes McDonald’s, Apia Insurance, Samoa Stationery and Books, the Samoa Ports Authority, the Electric Power Corporation, SkyEye and Accident Compensation Corporation.

The Games are due to take place between July 7 and 20 but the country was only confirmed as host in December 2017.

Apia stepped in following the withdrawal of Tonga who cited financial concerns.

It means Samoan organisers have had a shorter time than usual to prepare for the quadrennial event.

"Friday marks 100 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, and to say that it has been a hectic year of preparations would be an understatement," said Matatia.

Christophe Dabin is the General Secretary of the National French and Sporting Olympic Committee (CNOSF) of New Caledonia and knows this well.

He also understands the value of his team staying together in the Games Village at the Methodist Church Compound at Faleula at the XVI Pacific Games in July.

Any team who stays together, will win together,” he says.

This was also the philosophy of the Pacific Games Office in choosing the location and bringing the Games slogan, One in Spirit, into reality.

The original plan was for athletes to be housed in hotels but a lack of providers forced organisers to approach the Methodist Church of Samoa, who agreed to have the athletes stay at their Faleula compound.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue believes the change of plan is a blessing in disguise.

"It's a big advantage actually to have all of the athletes in one place, like we had in Port Moresby (four years ago) and in New Caledonia in 2011. The last time the Games were here (in 2007) all the athletes were housed in schools around the town.

The Chairman of the Pacific Games Organizing Committee said he is excited to welcome the CDM envoy to Samoa and hopes that the meeting will be a fruitful and successful one.

The total worth of all contracts is ST$1,355,280.

A statement said the hotels were selected based on the number of Officials, location and proximity of the hotel to Games venues and Dining Hall facilities, as well as the overall suitability in the transportation plan for the Games.

Competitions are being planned in Goroka and Kimbe to assist Athletics PNG finalize its selections ahead of the Justification Committee Meeting in March.

The PNGOC has set February 27^th as the deadline for nominations for the final team.

Athletics PNG will consider competition results from 2018 and these trials to finalize the team.

Athletics PNG has increased the number of athletes in camp, with the number now at 47 with athletes from Simbu, Lae, East New Britain, New Ireland, NCD Central, Madang , Eastern Highlands, the Sepik and Western Province.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed last month between the Samoa Government and accommodation providers in Upolu and Savai'i.

But the majority of athletes will now base themselves at the Methodist Church of Samoa's Faleula compound after officials were only able to convince 30 hotels to come on board, which will only cater for one quarter of the 4000 beds required.

Games CEO Falefata Hele Ei Matatia said competing with a busy tourism sector provided added complications.

Boxing, football (soccer), judo, lawn bowls, powerlifting, rugby 9s, taekwondo and va’a (outrigger canoeing) were not endorsed by the Justification Committee (JC) due to the failure to meet the May 18^th deadline.

The JC is the body responsible for endorsing sports – and their athletes and officials – to be a part of Team PNG for respective Games.