Games preparations set with K1b support

 By JEFFREY ELAPA

PARLIAMENT was told yesterday that with 750 days to go, the 2015 South Pacific Games is going to be delivered as scheduled with the government’s funding of almost K1 billion support in preparations.

The deadline is July 4, 2015, the start of the South Pacific Games.

Minister for Sports, Pacific Games and National Events Justin Tkatchenko said this when presenting his ministerial statement on the status and progress of the 2015 Pacific games in parliament.

He said for three years after the bid to host the Games was won, the country sat on it without any progress, and was in the verge of having the host contract revoked by the Pacific Games Council, until the O’Neill government took on the  task.

He said although time was not on PNG’s side, so far, preparations were progressing well and would be ready for the Games in 2015.

He said in order to showcase the country to over 4000 visitors from 22 countries, in 28 sports and disciplines three main entities were established to deliver the games.

They were;

• The venue infrastructure and equipment committee:  they would be responsible for construction of new sporting venues and infrastructure and the rehabilitation of existing sporting venues and facilities. It will also be responsible for building a new Games Village at the University of PNG and providing sporting equipment. By 2015 they should have four projects completed, Games Village, Taurama aquatic centre and indoor complex, Sir John Guise stadium and Rita Flynn courts rehabilitation.
• Games Organising committee: they would be responsible for the organising of the Games, covering security, Games support services, ceremonies, cultural events, marketing and communication and human resource among others, and;
• The grassroots to gold programme that would be responsible for talent identification of athletes to participate in the Games, and the talent development of the success of the Games. They come under the PNG Sport Foundation.

Tkatchenko said the successful delivery of the Games was critical of PNG’s leadership in the Pacific and beyond and it had to be facilitated well, meeting international standards.

He added that the preparing and facilitating a big event like that, meeting international standards, would  also leave a legacy.