PNG will assist Tonga Games

By ISAAC LIRI
SPORTS Minister Justin Tkatchenko has confirmed that Papua New Guinea will fulfil the promise made earlier this year to help Tonga in the deliverance of the 2019 Pacific Games.
With the organisers of the 2019 Pacific Games following up on the arrangement made by the PNG Government, Tkatchenko said the delay was due to the screening of the cost assessments.
Tkatchenko, who led a delegation to Tonga in February, said the cost assessments had been received and were in the process of screening by the National Executive Council and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill before the government revealed the amount of assistance it would provide.
“After the visit to Tonga with engineers, architects and the assessment project management team, we identified the areas where we (PNG would assist. The cost assessment was provided a couple of weeks ago on the scope of work that needs to be done in upgrading their national stadium (Teufaiva National Stadium) and their high performance centre.
“The matter will be deliberated on by the NEC and the Prime Minister and once that is done, they will come up with the amount to assist Tonga in its preparations for the 2019 Games,” Tkatchenko said.
Tkatchenko said that in addition, Papua New Guinea would also send its PNG Sports Foundation officers to Nuku’alofa to train and educate sports officials.
He said the government would make an announcement on that financial assistance in the coming weeks.  Meanwhile, reports from Radio New Zealand say that Tonga understands that it is their responsibility to ensure the facilities are ready, and that they have already received financial assistance from Australia and New Zealand, and their organising committee plan to have the Teufaiva Stadium completed by March next year.