Tonga bids to host 2019 Pacific Games [1]
Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 19:13. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Tonga is one of two countries bidding to host the Pacific Games for the first time in 2019. Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, in supporting the bid, said that a nomination for Tonga to host the games would provide a much needed financial injection into the economy.
Tonga's sports administrators hope that a successful bid, with a proposed budget of USD$70 million, will see the development of new sporting facilities and the upgrading of existing ones for the games that would attract over 5,000 athletes and officials.
The Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee TASANOC submitted its bid to the Secretariat of the Pacific Games Council on May 18. Only two Pacific Island countries have offered to host the games, and the other contender is French Polynesia (Tahiti).
The Pacific Games Council General Meeting in Wallis and Futuna will announce the outcome of the bids, and name the host country on October 18.
Tonga
Tonga's bid document under a theme "Our People Our Games" was released this morning.
Tonga is offering to host 12 compulsory sports and 16 additional sports.
With a projected expenditure of USD$70 million, the government will cover the game's operating costs of USD$20 million, while it was anticipated that the capital costs of USD$50 million, would be collected from aid donors and franchises through partnerships and sponsorship.
Tonga's bid stated that it has the full backing of government and all sectors of the Tongan economy, including the private sector, national sporting organizations and NGOs.
Developments
In preparation, the Tongan government and the Tonga National Olympic Committee had started work to draw up a master plan that would see the development of new sporting facilities and the upgrading of existing ones.
It proposed that Lototonga in Vaheloto, Tongatapu, would become the prime venue for the games and a Games Village would be located at various secondary schools in the Nuku'alofa town area.
New developments would include a new stadium for indoor sports and an aquatic centre for swimming to be built at Lototonga.
Tonga High School stadium
China had also committed to build a new stadium as part of the Tonga High School Phase II project. This will become the Tonga High School Recreational Centre used for the Rugby 7's.
Proposed new facilities will receive investments, while existing facilities will be upgraded and funded by the Tonga Government including the main Taufaiva Stadium, the Manamo'ui Golf Course, the 'Atele Indoor Stadium, Lototonga Football Centre and the 'Atele Tennis court.
For accommodation Tonga proposed to adopt similar accommodation arrangements as the Samoa Games 2007, utilising various schools in Nuku'alofa. The Tongan government would have to upgrade the accommodation and sanitary facilities to meet required standards for 5,000 people in this dormitory form of accommodation.
Economic boost
The Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, in supporting the bid, said that Tonga is amply equipped in terms of infrastructure and human skills to stage a wonderful games. "And the games will create massive employment for Tongans, and a much needed financial injection into the Tonga economy," he said.
"I believe that it is imperative to stress that a decision to nominate Tonga as a host nation for the 2019 games will send a strong and unmistakable signal in support of democracy in our region."
He said in 2019 Tonga would mark the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of the first draft of the Tongan constitution in 1869. "And the Tongan people could ask for no greater gift than the opportunity to stage the 2019 Pacific Games in our Island Kingdom," he said.
The bid was submitted by the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee TASANOC, in partnership with the 2019 Pacific Games Bidding Committee.
Tonga hosted the South Pacific Mini Games in 1989, but has never hosted the Pacific Games.