Pacific Games

National Basketball Development Officer Sacha Duthu says the Asia tournament will be a good platform for the players to gain experience.

“We are going to face professional basketball players and at it will be the same as last year when we participated for the first time. We know that it’s not about losing or winning, but learning to make sure that we will be ready for the Pacific Games, and, with a lot of respect and humility, used to facing better basketball players than the ones that we going face in Samoa.”

The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed at its General Assembly in Bangkok earlier this month that athletes from 17 Oceania nations would be eligible to compete in sports which will serve as joint Asia-Oceania qualifying events for the Olympic Games.

PGC President Vidhya Lakhan was present at the assembly where the OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad, said the next Asiad in Hangzhou, China would expand the relationship between the two regions.

Athletes from the French territory will be free to participate at next year's Pacific Games in Samoa provided an agreement for the selection of its rugby and boxing athletes is honoured.

Tahiti was suspended by the Council's General Assembly in December due to "political interference".

It followed the French Polynesian Government's decision to boycott the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu because of a dispute over which boxers and rugby sevens athletes should represent Tahiti.

A Commonwealth Games Qualifier for beach volleyball was played prior to the Mini Games in Vanuatu earlier this month, ensuring a strong field was in attendance in Port Vila.

Meanwhile the rugby sevens competition also had a World Cup qualifying spot up for grabs.

Van2017 CEO Clint Flood said further qualifying opportunities will lead to more interest at future Games.

"We would have liked to have a few more teams in football - it would have been great to have PNG here and the other teams," he said.

The PGC’s Forum held after its annual general meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu this week was to hear members on several key topics such as associate membership, bid process and management structure

The other names that were floated in general discussion that could be invited to become members of the regional games were Christmas Island, Bougainville, Easter Islands and Hawaii apart from Australia and New Zealand.

These countries could in future become associate members with certain voting rights.

The Trans-Tasman neighbours were invited to take part in four sports at the 2015 Games in Port Moresby, increasing to eight for the 2019 edition in Samoa.

Australia and New Zealand make their Mini Games debut in Port Vila this week in weightlifting, having declined to enter teams in rugby sevens.

The President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan, said the participation of Australia and New Zealand would ensure the event is recognised around the world.

"Most of the continents have their own Continental Games," Lakhan said.

The key chorus line of the theme song is “Rise Vanuatu Rise – Shine Pacifika Shine … for a moment in time, we’re together as one, to ignite the spirit within.” Life is moving on every minute, second, hour and we need to make our mark now.”

According to RNZI, the Solomons delegation includes the provincial government minister, David Tome, and the opposition leader, Jeremiah Manele.

The bid will seek votes from the 22 member countries on the Pacific Games Council.

Solomon Islands is up against French Polynesia, which lost the 2019 rights to Tonga.

Mr Liu i talem se China i redi blong ofarem moa trening long ol best atlet blong Vanuatu blong oli save winim ol medal long taem blong gem ia.

Niu ambassada blong China, hemi mekem tok tok ia taem we hemi bin mit wetem praem minista, Charlot Salwai long yestede (Tosde).

Chief Executive Officer of GOC, Peter Stewart thanked everyone who had contributed to the success of the XVth Pacific Games.

Since the Closing Ceremony, GOC has paid off all its contractors and suppliers and prepared the financials for auditing by Deloitte. It has handed over all sports and office equipment to the National Sports Foundation and the PNG Olympic Committee as part of the legacy plan.