The Papua New Guinean delegation which visited Tonga to assess sporting facilities for the Pacific Sport 2019 has departed the kingdom on Tuesday.
The delegation was led by the Papua New Guinea’s Minister for National Events, Sports and Tourism Hon. Justin Tkatchenko.
Hon Tkatchenko visited Tonga’s existing sporting facilities and infrastructure and said they were still in good condition but they have to be upgraded to meet the standard required for the Pacific Games.
He said his architects and engineers who were with him in Tonga will work on plans and valuation of the main stadium and the high performance centre.
The works will be reported to the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister and his government before his country will donate funding for the constructions.
Hon Tkatchenko said Tonga still had plenty of time to prepare for the Games.
In a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office Hon Tkatchenko said the “sporting facilities Papua New Guinea had built for the Pacific Games 2015 are lasting legacies for the nation”.
“Because of those facilities, Papua New Guinea are now able to host international sporting events such as the upcoming Under-20 FIFA World”, he said.
Tonga’s Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva congratulated Hon Tkatchenko and his team for their visit and said the “Government and People of Papua New Guinea have accorded to the call for assistance in Tonga’s great stride, commitments and challenges in the preparation for the Pacific Games 2019”.
