Tonga 2019 Pacific Games ^Featured

In response to reports in the local Tongan press attributed to the Prime Minister addressing Parliament on Tonga’s ability to fully fund the 2019 Pacific Games, the Pacific Games Council has always taken a flexible and modest approach to the requirements of the sporting facilities to ensure that the Games leave Tonga with an affordable legacy.  

At no stage, for example, has the Council requested the existing 9-hole golf course be re-developed to an 18-hole facility.  The 9-hole course will be suitable for the Pacific Games.

The Pacific Games Council will continue to work cooperatively with the Tongan Government to ensure that the Games venue requirements are affordable and to ensure that the budget of the Games Organising Committee remains modest, but nevertheless capable of supporting a successful Pacific Games.  In fact, the Tonga 2019 Games Organising Committee budget is considerably much smaller than the budgets of the past two previous hosts and is commensurate with Samoa’s budget when it successfully staged the Pacific Games in 2007.

Mr Lakhan said, “As far as the Pacific Games Council is concerned, the 2019 Pacific Games will continue to be hosted by Tonga. The Tongan Pacific Games Association, its 2019 Games Organising Committee, many members of the Tongan Government and Parliament, and most importantly the Tongan people, all expect that the Games will happen in Tonga in 2019 and that they will be hosted successfully, befitting Tonga’s proud sporting history”.  

“I urge the Government to fully get behind the Games and move forward with the exciting plans they have developed to build the facilities and deliver the Games in conjunction with the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee”.

-Pacific Games Council