Taking Games to new level

PORT MORESBY – The Pacific Games Council (PGC) says it intends to push the Pacific Games to another level.

President Vidhya Lakhan of Fiji said at a recent press conference that the inclusion of Australia and New Zealand as participants in the Pacific Games could be a step towards ensuring that participation spans Oceania.

“Our intention from the Pacific Games Council’s perspective is for the Games to be a continental sports meet,” says Lakhan.

The Pacific Games will still be known by its current name but participation is expected to be on continental basis to meet international requirements.

“What we want to do is to ensure that our athletes from the Pacific region do not have to go and participate in competitions outside our region to qualify for world championships, Olympic or Commonwealth Games.”

The PGC will make representations to ensure that the International Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Federation recognise the Pacific Games as Oceania’s representative multi-code event.

“For a very long period of time we have not allowed Australia and New Zealand to take part,” Lakhan said.

“We hope after this trial it will open up for more participation, this will then make it the Games for this part of the region.”

The PGC intends to impress onto governmental representatives that sport plays a very important role in the lives of people from across the participant nations and it is a medium through which many social issues can be addressed.

The PGC hopes that its campaign will drive investment in sport across the region.