Pacific Games used as qualification or ranking for International outings

​The Pacific Games Council (PGC) in helping put together the XV Pacific Games along with the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) have focused more on making it a Games for the athletes.

PGC Executive Director Andrew Minogue says that part of their business plan is to provide benefits for athletes and their programmes.

“A number of sports are been used as qualification or ranking events at the games which from the Executive Board’s perspective is a very successful initiative.

“We’ve had Olympic Games, first stage qualification for Rio 2016 in weightlifting, there’s the men’s football component are taking place with New Zealand and the women’s event without the New Zealand women are the first stage qualifier for the Olympics, Taekwondo next week is a G4 event which will provide points for athletes to qualify for the Olympics.

“Rugby 7s, in finishing third Tonga has qualified for the Hong Kong next year which is very for their experience. Basketball using the event as a qualifier to the FIBA 2019 World Cup for men and women. 

“Athletics and swimming, it’s become a tradition now since the 2011 Games in New Caledonia that both FINA and the IAAF recognise times that are recorded at our Games to assist athletes with their qualification objectives for both the World Championships and the Olympics.”

He said cricket for the men it’s for ICC rankings points and the women it’s a qualification for the T20 World Cup, netball- Pacific Netball Series which gives the teams ranking points towards the World Championship and Commonwealth Games and sailing there’s ISAF rankings points attached to these Games.

Minogue says there’s a lot of value being added to the athletes and their performances in Port Moresby.