Tonga's athletes will most likely have to find their own way to Apia to compete in the South Pacific Games in August, while government support for Tonga's team has not been confirmed.

A big presence by Tongan athletes at the 13th South Pacific Games is doubtful, according to Hiko Fungavaka from the Tonga Amateur Sports Association, because of uncertainty over the government's financial contribution to Tonga's participation and the weakness of local sports associations to prepare athletes for the games.

Hiko Fungavaka said that 238 Tongan athletes in 19 different sports events are currently preparing for the games, but he anticipated that not all would be able to attend because of financial constraints. While there is uncertainty over the number of Tongan athletes who will go to Apia, the officials to accompany a Tongan contingent had also not been named.

He said that the government's contribution toward the sending of athletes has not been confirmed, "and most likely it may not come this year because of the country's current state of economy after the 16/11 riots; so individual teams and local associations will have to chip in and find sponsors for their athletes."

Hiko believed that the one main draw back with local sports is that there is a lack competition for the athletes, "and that is because sports associations are weak and are unable to organize local competitions."

The 19 sports that are currently in preparation, hoping to go to Apia, are Archery, Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Body Building, Cricket, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowling, Bar Lifting, Rugby Seven-a-side, Surfing, Soccer, Table Tennis, Taekwando, Tennis, Indoor Volleyball, Outrigger Canoe and Weightlifting.

The opening ceremony of the South Pacific Games is on August 25 and the sports competition runs from August 27 until September 6.