Venues may not be complete

 PAPUA New Guinea is struggling to have venues ready for July’s Pacific Games, let alone its ambition to host the best Games ever.

The Sir John Guise Stadium that will feature the opening and closing ceremonies is now expected to have 15,000 seats at best and other venues are on schedule to be only 80 to 90 per cent completed by deadline.

Sports and Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko last night said 10,000 seats would be permanent concrete and 5000 metal seats.

The netball venue, Rita Flynn Courts, hosting perhaps the biggest participation sport of the Games, is not likely to be ready. 

Availability of courts around schools in Port Moresby was being sought to stage matches but Tkatchenko said the sport would be moved indoor at the Sir John Guise Stadium.

“While most venues are being constructed in stages, the main venues and facilities will have all major components complete and ready for the Games — and that includes playing fields, courts, seating and amenities, etc,” Tkatchenko said.

“Some venues that are being built in stages will have them ready for use during the Games, and then complete stages two and three according to building plans.” Incomplete and untested venues have forced the Games committees to reject assuming liability and health and safety responsibilities, The National’s investigations have revealed. As the venues come under Government jurisdiction, it has no alternative but accept liabilities and the National Capital District Commission will help out by providing clearance certificates for competitions to be staged in unfinished venues.  Without the certificates, neither the organising committee nor the council can afford risking health and safety compliance.

 Investigations have revealed that major sprucing up will be required to make venues look like arenas of some standard and that Pacific Island athletes are not competing at building or construction sites.

The Games council is concerned about the Games’ image, as much as its own presentation of Pacific sports to the international audience, and that of PNG’s.

Contractors, builders and project managers at venues are being persuaded, and some have agreed, to speed up work.  Some have agreed to complete the work after the Games if the venues remain incomplete.

Venues for Games as big as the one anticipated in July normally requires handing over to the organising committee three months prior to the opening ceremony.