On Sunday 21August 2016, while working at the office of the Pacific Games, Joe Bomal Carlo, CEO of Van2017 passed on. One Monday a year after his passing, Van2017 reflected on this great icon of sport.
Joe was a longtime public servant, first serving in the time of the Condominium era in the establishment division, later as radio broadcaster on air, and then, later moving to government offices.
He then had a very successful career in media and was the second general manager of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation. He served the media industry till the early nineties when he took up the role of the President of the Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (VASANOC), a post he held for almost two decades. He was the CEO of the 1993 Pacific Mini Games and from that experience, dedicated the next 23 years of his life to sport and legacy that can be derived from sport.
Joe was instrumental in presenting a successful bid that won Vanuatu the hosting rights for the X Pacific Mini Games to grace its shores. In 2011 Vanuatu was awarded the Games and for the following 5 years, Joe served as CEO of the venture to ensure the dream of hosting a game became a reality.
At the Chef De Mission meeting held last week in Port Vila for the Teams coming to the Pacific Mini Games in December, Joe Bomal Carlo was toasted and honored by his friends and colleagues across the Pacific. Chairman of the PGC Vidhya Lakhan called Mr Carlo a true sportsman reflecting the highest values of – honesty, integrity, hard work and vision.
The Chairman of Van2017 Organizing committee, Mr. Mark Stafford, Van2017 CEO Clint Flood, along with the Acting DG of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, George Maeltoka, remembered Joe Carlo at a graveside memorial service on Monday August 21 at his final resting place in Pango Village.
CEO Clint Flood said that he still has Joe’s strong words in his head- saying—“’We must deliver the best Games for our people of Vanuatu—don’t EVER forget that’. Sadly he will not be here in December to see the fruits of his efforts he started, but Van2017 knows he is looking down on us to ensure we deliver!”.
In sharing the sympathies with Joe’s family, Mark Stafford confirmed that the Joe Carlo Award will be handed out at the Closing Ceremonies for the Games that will ensure that the spirit of Joe’s hard work and lifetime dedication to sport will not be forgotten.
Photo supplied