14 May 2016

Sport: Solomons lines up meetings for Pacific Games

12:20 pm on 14 May 2016

The Solomon Islands will liaise with a range of parties to ensure they have the best preparation possible for hosting the 2023 Pacific Games.

NOCSI President Martin Rara, PGC President Vidhya Lakhan and Solomon Islands Deputy PM Manasseh Maelanga signing the host city contract.

NOCSI President Martin Rara, PGC President Vidhya Lakhan and Solomon Islands Deputy PM Manasseh Maelanga signing the host city contract. Photo: ONOC

The Melanesian country beat the rival bid from French Polynesia by one vote at Wednesday's Pacific Games Council General Assembly in Vanuatu.

A Solomons delegation has already met with the chair of the Organising Committee for the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, Emma Waiwai, to discuss the challenges in preparing Port Moresby for last year's event.

The Vice President of the Solomon Islands National Olympic Committee, Ronald Talasasa, said further meetings have been lined up for the weeks and months ahead.

"We will continue to liaise with our neighbours - particularly those who have already hosted the Games. We will be talking to others in the all Oceania Olympic Committee as well as a visit by the Pacific Games Council not long from here"

"There will also be plans to meet with others that have already indicated their support and our donor partners and we will look outside of Solomon Islands, our Pacific neighbours, to start off the discussion," he said.

Ronald Talasasa said it was hoped legislation will be in place by the end of the year to establish a trust fund that will help to pay for the construction of new facilities in Honiara.