2023 Pacific Games

2023 Pacific Games baton currently on its route

This follows it’s unveiling in Honiara last Saturday by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

The Games baton launch also marked the 100-day countdown to the Games' opening ceremony on November 19.

The baton, designed as a paddle, is now being taken to all the provinces in the Solomons.

     

Disability sports officials commend Games plans

"Today we heard the news from the Solomon Islands Government who have committed $US363,000 funding to make the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games more accessible and inclusive for disabled athletes," Paul Bird, Oceania Paralympic Committee President said in Brisbane, Australia.

Bird was amongst representatives from National Paralympic Committees from across Oceania who met in Brisbane to discuss the future of Para sport in the Oceania region.

Canberra helping Solomons host PacGames athletes

The Solomon Islands 2023 Steering Committee has met for the second time to discuss preparations for the Games since Australia signed a formal agreement to provide funding last December.

Inside the Games reports the main portion of Australia's $US11 million commitment is to assist with the refurbishment of school dormitories which will serve as athletes' accommodation.

Solomon Islands 2023 has also received financial support from China, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Japan and South Korea to aid preparations for the Games, which are set to begin in November.

 

Help arrives to ensure Pacific Games happens

"Due to the combination of COVID-19 and the social unrest in November/December period, the progress of construction is badly affected, said Chairman of the Solomon Islands National Hosting Authority Jimmie Rodgers.

"With the current workforce we will not be able to complete the facilities on time for the games next year. The additional staff will ensure the facilities are completed in time for the Games."

Peter Stewart appointed CEO of 2023 Pacific Games

The Australian-based administrator was CEO of the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby and has held several other positions in Papua New Guinea and at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

He replaces Shalom Akao Waita, who was the first woman to lead a Pacific Games Organising Committee.

The former Solomon Islands netball and basketball representative was appointed in October but stood down earlier this year.

China major financial backer of 2023 Pacific Games

The announcement has been made by the Head of the Chinese Embassy Taskforce, Yao Ming.

Yao said Beijing had confirmed the funding so the next move would see a signing of a letter of exchange with the Solomon Islands government.

China has sent two working teams from the Beijing Architect Institute to do geo-tech surveys and Yao said in two months' time they would finish the preliminary survey work.

He added that after an agreement signing, his government would send a technical assessment team to the Solomons to begin the job on the ground.

2023 Pacific Games confident of avoiding Covid-19 delays

A number of big projects funded by the Chinese government were scheduled to get underway this year, including the construction of the new national stadium in Honiara, while the Indonesian government had indicated the multi-purpose hall could be completed by the end of next year.

Lead advisor to the National Hosting Authority, Clint Flood, said the majority of facilities were still in the design stage and they did not expect Covid-19 would impact the construction timeline at this stage.

Taiwan to fund Solomons stadium for 2023 Pacific Games

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.

Solomons make one last push to hold 2023 Pac Games

RNZI reports the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare asked for a special adjournment in parliament to facilitate the trip and promised to back the bid with funding.

The Solomons effort is being run on the basis that the Games have eluded the country for far too long, with the last event, the 1982 Mini Games.

Fiji ready to host 2023 games

Delana who is currently in Papua New Guinea for the Pacific Games was asked of Fiji's intention to bid for the 2023 games, 20-years after the last one held in Suva.

Delana said there was no decision on the matter yet.

“The Pacific Games Council committee has not said anything on that yet,” he said.

“We are ready to host. The next Pacific Games is Tonga, after that the PGC will decide on 2023.”

Delana said there was a lot to learn from the host nation as they had proven everybody wrong by having world-class facilities done in time for the games.