The iconic ‘Boat of Friendship’ stadium funded by the Peoples’ Republic of China is just about complete as Honiara gears up to host the Pacific Games later this year
SOLOMON Islands iconic new state-of-the-art stadium symbolising the ‘boat of friendship’ between Solomon Islands and the Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) is 80 percent complete.
This is the latest development regarding the 10,000-audience seat national stadium as the country works towards hosting the Pacific Games 2023 later this year with the generous assistance of China.
Constructors from China and Solomon Islands worked side by side tirelessly day and night and have successfully installed the membrane structure of the main stadium, planted the football field lawn and constructed an asphalt concrete for the runway.
China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) CCECC Team leader, Huang Peng, in an interview said the remaining work includes the interior decoration, installation of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic equipment, the construction of the exterior road and drainage well and other sports-related works.
He said the full project will be handed over five months prior to the hosting of the Pacific Games 2023 which will commence in November.
Mr Peng said the main stadium is able to accommodate a huge audience.
He said as general contractors, CCECC will make all efforts to make sure the project is handed over on time and in the best workmanship.
Mr Peng said the main stadium symbolises the “boat of friendship” between PRC and Solomon Islands.
“Let us look forward to the moment when the main stadium is fully completed and witness the boat of friendship between China and Solomon Islands sail through the winds and waves of challenges into the future,” he added.
Mr Peng said the whole project includes seven facilities and one of them is the main stadium with 10,000 audience and 1,000 VIP seats. The others are the aquatic centre, tennis court with supporting centre, public catering area, multi-functional hall, practice track, standard football field and hockey pitch.
The first two facilities have already been handed over to the Solomon Islands Government and these are the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) – High Performance Centre and the training track.
The SINIS – High Performance Centre was handed over by PRC on 19 November, 2022 and the training track on April 22, 2022.
BY CHARLES KADAMANA
