2019 Pacific Games

Samoa 2019 chief executive aims to make history at Pacific Games

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.

2019 Pacific Games Village impresses

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.

Pacific Games Council backs accommodation plans in Samoa

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.

Pacific Games Chef De Missions meet in Apia

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.

Samoa Govt approves more accommodation for Pacific Games’ officials

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.

2019 Pacific Games organisers confident despite hiccups

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.

Pacific Games case against Tonga progresses

Legal action was launched in May over the government's withdrawal from hosting the region's biggest sporting event.

The lawyer for the Pacific Games Council and Tonga's Olympic Committee applied for a default judgement in their favour after the government appeared to have missed various deadlines to respond to the action.

The sporting bodies are suing for damages incurred due to Tonga's belated withdrawal from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games.

Legal action against Tonga for Pacific Games withdrawal

The Kingdom won the bid to in 2012 before withdrawing their hosting rights earlier this year due to financial reasons.

Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue says dealing with Tonga's withdrawal has cost them a lot of money.

"The additional costs that the council has had to incur in going through this process of finding a new host and the damage to the brand and the lost opportunity with potential sponsors and so forth."

PRN reports Minogue believes the Tongan government also owes TASANOC money as a result of the withdrawal.

Samoa signs host agreement with Pacific Games Council

Lakhan made the comment after signing the host agreement with Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in Apia yesterday.

“When we got the bids, Samoa ticked all the boxes and came up with flying colors,” he said.

“Samoa met all the criterias from government backing and support to the availability of international sports facilities and two experts on the ground to facilitate, manage and deliver the level of competitions. By far, I am very confident that Samoa will deliver.”

Only Samoa and Guam left in Pac Games race

The Pacific Games Council has visited Samoa and Guam in the past fortnight to evaluate their bids but said with no government support forthcoming in Tahiti their initial expression of interest cannot be evaluated further.

The President of the Tahiti Olympic Committee, Tauhiti Nena, said they tried to persuade the administration to reconsider their decision no avail.