The Pacific Games Council says it will discuss how best to honour the late Vanuatu sports administrator Joe Carlo, who died at the weekend.
Carlo led the successful bid team that won hosting rights for the 2017 Mini Games, to be held in Port Vila, and until recently was CEO of the Games Organising Committee, before standing aside because of health matters.
The President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan, said despite this Carlo remained influential.
"He did a lot of preliminary work with the government and of course it wasn't an easy task for Joe because the government kept changing in Vanuatu in the last two years, but he was able to get the message across to the Vanuatu government - whichever government was in power - that there's a commitment made and they had to honour that commitment," he said.
"It was only about a couple of weeks ago, because of Joe's failing health, that he was relieved of his duty, mutually and in consultation with Joe and we've got a new CEO. Joe still had an important role as a government liaison person on the organising committee and his contributions that he was making was very well received and very much appreciated with the new team."
President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan Photo: ONOC
He also served as President of the Vanuatu Olympic Committee for nearly two decades and also spent time on the executive of the Oceania National Olympic Committee, Vanuatu Rugby and as a delegate to the Pacific Games Council.
Vidhya Lakhan said he plans to speak with the leaders of VASANOC, when they arrive home from the Rio Olympics.
"So when they get back we will see what we can do for Joe but we will be in Vanuatu against at the end of September - maybe at that time we will do something, if not at the next General Assembly of the Games Council and perhaps maybe something suitable, if it is appropriate, at the Games in 2017," he said.
Vidhya Lakhan said Joe Carlo he will be missed by Vanuatu and the wider Pacific community and leaves behind a great legacy for the people who follow in his footsteps.
