Sports to test venues

 THE venues constructed for the Pacific Games will be tested in the second week of June before the Games start on July 4, Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko said.

He said venues such as the Taurama Aquatic Centre, which is expected to be fully completed by this month, will host a mini-swimming competition to test the venues before the Pacific Games.

Tkatchenko said Sir John Guise Stadium will host a PNG Hunters Queensland Instrust  Cup match on June 13 to test the outdoor stadium.

Because of the delay for the outdoor construction due to rainy weather, the proposed Hunters Round 13 match for June 7 against the Ipswich Jets was postponed.

The Hunters will most likely host the Round 14 match against the Souths Logan Magpies in Port Moresby for the first time.

He said they will make sure the 15,000 capacity stadium will be packed in order to test the flow of people and traffic in and out of the stadium.

“The testing of the venues will come in the form of testing the electricity flow, making sure the toilets are splashing well, capacity of the spectators and the flow of the public,” Tkatchenko said.

Most of the athletes will use the facilities for about two or three weeks before contractors refine it for the major event — the Pacific Games.

“These two to three weeks will be more than enough for the local athletes to understand and utilise the facilities,” Tkatchenko said. 

He said after the testing, the facilities will then be given to the Games Organising Committee to be used for the Games.

He said the construction of the venues are coming along well, with the Taurama facility taking final shape on the interior and exterior.

The pools are expected to be filled at the end of this month.

“The contractors at each venue will do a massive cleanup three to four times this week and next week to get the facilities ready for the Games.