SUVA, (PPGC) —- The Pacific Games Council (PGC) is very disappointed that the Organising Committee for the Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games (VAN2017) has been forced to postpone major initiatives, including this week’s scheduled official sponsorship announcements, due to the lack of support and active disruptions from some elements within the Vanuatu Government.
With less than one year to go before the Opening Ceremony, this is a dangerous development which seriously threatens the ability of Vanuatu to organise the 10th Pacific Mini Games.
Over the past three months, since PGC President Vidhya Lakhan’s last visit to Port Vila, VAN2017 has been doing an excellent job in making up for many years of lost time. VAN2017 has engaged commercial sponsors, the 13 international sports federations, the athletes of the Pacific through the 22 Pacific Games Associations, as well as the general public of Vanuatu to participate in the 10th Pacific Mini Games.
The PGC will be visiting Port Vila later this week to meet with the Prime Minister, other senior Ministers within the Vanuatu Government and the host Pacific Games Association (VASANOC) in an attempt to find a way forward for the Games to proceed as planned and contracted under the Host Agreement signed by the three parties in 2011.
The Prime Minister and other senior Ministers within the Government have provided assurances to the PGC on previous visits that the Vanuatu Government wants to host the 10th Pacific Mini Games and respects the processes of organising the Games as outlined in the Host Agreement.
The PGC approaches this week’s visit with goodwill and in good faith, but the core responsibilities and obligations outlined in the Host Agreement must be respected so that VAN2017 is in a position to organise the Games in accordance with the PGC Charter. The Games cannot be organised in any other manner.
A further update will be provided at the conclusion of the visit.
