The Pacific Games Council says it was very impressed after completing a three-day visit to evaluate Samoa's bid to host the 2019 Games.
Council President Vidhya Lakhan and CEO Andrew Minogue met with Samoa Olympic Committee, key government ministers, the attorney-general and several business leaders.
The Council said the sporting facilities in Apia have been well maintained since Samoa hosted the 2007 South Pacific Games and the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2015, and now only require a small refurbishment to be ready in two years.
Pacific Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan and Samoa Olympic Committee President Patrick Fepulea'i. Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Mr Lakhan said the Samoa government has shown full support for SASNOC to host the games in two years' time.
"The full and financial support of the Samoan Government adds the vital component of stability and certainty that the PGC is seeking in the wake of the Tongan Government's withdrawal as Games host," he said.
"Samoa has a very very strong bid in that you don't have to build anything - you have all the facilities and you also have people who were involved in the 2007 Games and then more recently with the Commonwealth Youth Games.
"Normally those expertise are lost because the Pacific Games comes to a country maybe 25-27 years later but this time around it's coming much sooner - in ten years - so people are still around and they're fully aware of what is required and they're able to deliver.
"So that is also a plus factor for Samoa and we are quite confident if you are successful you will deliver a good Games".
Samoa's bid is estimated to cost about ten million US dollars.
The Pacific Games Council will also visit Guam and Tahiti this month to assess their bids and intend to announce the new host at the start of September.
