THE final combined thanksgiving service in the lead up to the 2023 Pacific Games was held yesterday afternoon at the Saint Barnabas Cathedral.
Esteemed dignitaries, including the Governor General Sir David Vunagi, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Speaker of the National Parliament Sir John Patteson Oti, Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, Cabinet Ministers and Members of the Diplomatic Corp were part of the combined service.
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia The Most Right Reverend Leonard Dawea preached on the importance of national unity as the Sol2023 Pacific Games hallmark.
Acknowledging the dignitaries, Prime Minister and Minister for the 2023 Pacific Games Sogavare urged Solomon Islanders to support the national quest to deliver the best games ever in 2023.
The Prime Minister admitted that in preparing for the games over the past five years, Solomon Islands has faced many challenges – the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Honiara November 2021 Riot and its impacts, funding challenges, bad weather events and negative voices from small sectors of the community.
He however added, “We have challenged ourselves to rise above these things, and we have succeeded in preparing our country to host the single largest event our country will ever host.”
The last of the ‘Games venue’ will be handed over to the National Hosting Authourity in mid-October, Prime Minister Sogavare said.
“The country celebrates its successes and achievements, diversity, strength and our resolve as a nation,” he said.
Prime Minister Sogavare added, “The 2023 Pacific Games has brought our people, and our nation together. It is a force of unity. From the Ashes of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Riot of November 2021, we rose together, united, and stronger, as one people and one region.
“Today’s thanksgiving service is evidence of God’s unifying force among our people and our nation.”
Prime Minister Sogavare paid tribute to all the people that worked hard to bring the preparations for the games to where it reached today.
Amongs them are the Senior Technical Adviser to the NHA Board and Chair Clint Flood who developed the initial concepts for all the sports facilities now being marveled at, Games CEO Peter Stewart, Games Organising Committee Operations Manager Jack Smith, Executive Director of the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) Aaron Alsop, CEO of the National Sports Council Alison Burchell and Executive Director of the Facilities Operations Management Unit Steve Clark.
