Tonga's government says the structure of Tonga's sports federations needs to change before Tonga prepares to host the Pacific Games in 2019.
Last week the government had to front up the travel bill for 59 remaining athletes whose federations failed to pay their air fares to Papua New Guinea to compete in this year's Pacific Games.
The Minister of Youth, Employment and Sports, Fe'ao Vakata, says the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and other federations were disorganised and it's the last time the government will front up travel money due to their lack of preparation.
Vakata says the Ministry will work on setting up a separate institute of sports for Tonga alongside criteria for selected federation members.
"They all come running to Uncle Government thinking they are 'something'. But we want to host this very important occassion. They need us. They need government to jump in and help out with the federations, said Minister Vakata.
The Minister said he was embarrassed because the government had to foot much of the travel bill for 59 athletes whose associations failed to pay their air fares to Papua New Guinea.
The athletes were part of the 255 member Tongan sports team, but arrived at Fua'amotu airport last Tuesday to be told they had not been booked on the flight.
The sports people eventually got to PNG at the weekend having missed the first half of the Games.
Minister Vakata said he did not support the decision to send the additional athletes, because the Tonga Amateur Sports Association and other federations were disorganised and unprepared.
"If it was just up to myself they will not go. I wouldn't send them if it wasn't for the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister. There are international standards that we should be achieving before we send the team."
Fe'ao Vakata says the Tonga Government ended up paying two thirds of Tonga Games team's travel costs - double what had been arranged.
He said the associations will have to refund the money when they get back.
The late arriving athletes are participating in taekwondo, cricket, netball, and athletics.