Hosting a major sporting event puts a hefty financial burden on any host country and Solomon Islands hosting of the 2023 Pacific Games will cost the government $2.5 billion.
The government initially bidded with a budget of $1.5 billion but after reviewing the cost estimates, it came up with a budget estimate of $2.5billion.
This figure was revealed by the Chairman of the National Sports Council, Gabriel Suri when speaking at the 9th Australian Solomon Islands Business Forum in Honiara last week.
Mr Suri said the Republic of China (Taiwan) is fully committed to build a new National Stadium in preparation for the games.
The new proposed site for the stadium is the King George VI soccer fields and the rugby ground in East Honiara.
Panatina campus field- the initially proposed site- is now deemed too small by a technical assessment team from Taiwan.
By SIMON ABANA
