Tonga withdraws from 2019 Pacific Games hosting

The Tongan Government has announced that it is withdrawing from the hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games.

The announcement was made by Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva in Auckland last week, citing financial concerns.

Prime Minister Pohiva says although the Games themselves won't be going ahead, work will continue on refurbishing Teufaiva Stadium and other sports facilities.

Tonga's hosting of the Pacific Games had been seen as an ambitious move by a smaller nation, and there had been arguments about the leadership of the Games planning committee between Prime Minister Pohiva and former Prime Minister, Lord Sevele who chaired the committee.

Prime Minister Pohiva's decision has apparently been influenced by a World Bank report that predicted Tonga would face economic difficulties if it staged the quadrennial games.

A Tongan Government spokesman also advised that Tonga would be unable to afford the massive maintenance cost of the infrastructure needed for the event.

The spokesman advised “we cannot afford that large amount of money and we do not have the number of people and sport events to use these facilities from time to time to generate funds for the upkeep.”

Prime Minister Pohiva said the previous Government probably did not conduct extensive feasibility studies before agreeing to host the event.

Durban stepped back from hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games in March after South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said the projected costs were more than the country's flagging economy could afford.

First held in Fiji in 1963 (as the South Pacific Games) the 2015 Pacific Games were held in Papua New Guinea, featuring 3,700 athletes from 24 nations.

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