Solomon Islands has announced that the 2023 Pacific Games is being deferred by four months.
The dates for the Games have been moved from their original slot of mid to late July 2023, to the two weeks from November 16th to December 2nd 2023.
The Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says that in March, the Solomons Pacific Games Association submitted a paper to cabinet for their support to defer the 17th Games.
"The reason for their request is simply that delays forced upon us as the host nation by the Covid-19 pandemic had undermined our ability to complete the construction of all the facilities we require to successfully host the games," he said.
Mr Sogavare says the executive board of the Pacific Games council considered and approved the request for a deferral, in consultation with all 24 nations involved.