Taiwan to fund Solomons stadium for 2023 Pacific Games

The Solomon Islands government has approached Taiwan for funding to construct the main games venue for the 2023 Pacific Games to be held in Honiara.

Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga who is also the Minister for Home Affairs says the stadium venue is expected to cost more than $US28 million.

Mr Maelanga said the country's official preparations will kick off next month once the 2023 Pacific Games Bill is passed by parliament.

But he said a Taiwanese team has already been to look at the proposed sites for the games venues and have returned to Taipei to work out the full details of the project.

Meanwhile negotiations with the Solomon Islands National University and the King George VI Secondary School for the use of land, previously used for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts in 2012, are still underway.

This is after the original site proposed for the stadium at Burns Creek, near the eastern boundary of Honiara, was abandoned due to difficulties evicting squatters from the land.

Photo: RNZ Vinnie Wylie (The 2016 Pacific games were hosted by PNG. China will reportedly give Tonga $US17.6 million to help it host the 2019 Pacific Games).