A number of athletes and staff were expected to be at Teufaiva park today as Tonga began its preparation for the Games 2019 despite the impasse between the Tongan government and the Pacific Games Council (PGC) continues.
Tonga’s Sport Minister Feʻao Vakatā said sports such as netball, ping pong, taekwondo and table tennis began their preparation with team exercises and clinics.
He said the athletes used whatever sport facilities available at present until the new construction will be completed.
He said they were looking for funding so they could be able to send the athletes to overseas countries which have the latest modern sporting facilities such as PNG to train there.
When asked to comment on the government’s move to withdraw its suport for the Games if the PGC continues to endorse Lord Sevele ʻO Vailahi as head of the Games Organising Committee, the Minister said the law is clear.
He said Tonga is a sovereign state and if there is an issue with the PGC they should sort it out.
He declined to comment further saying he has just arrived from Guam and would like to concentrate on his schedule and the first thing was today’s event to start preparing the atheletes.
PNG agents
Hon Vakatā said two agents from Papua New Guinea have just left Tonga yesterday Tuesday 31.
They were in the kingdom as part of following up works before they could release grants to fund Tonga’s preparation for the Games.
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