BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
PETER STEWARD and Aaron Aslop has welcomed their new posts for the PG2023 recently announced by Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare Friday last week.
Peter steward was elect as the new CEO for PG2023 games organising committee while Aaron Aslop was elected as the inaugural executive director for the SI-National Institute of Sport high performance program.
“I’m certainly very excited to become member of the team and I’m looking forward to getting over and moving to Honiara and living in Solomon Islands for the duration of the preparation and implementation of the games,’’ said Steward.
Steward from Melbourne Australia said he is been very passionate about the value of the event for the building of the nation that is far more than just a sporting events.
“It’s an event that provide opportunity to build the capacity of the work force of the country, its businesses and hopefully live a long lasting legacy, not just in sport but across the board. So working together as the PM indicated a very big team and I’m really looking forward to been part of that fantastic event,’’ said the new elected CEO.
Meanwhile, Aaron Aslop who formally served as the Director for the PNG high performance programme when PNG hosted the PG in 2015 also made his acknowledgement through zoom during last week’s announcement.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to get connected to everybody again. we’ve been very excited to see the development of the National Institute of Sport as it continues to grow from what was originally a plan on a piece of paper now to almost a complete building.
“So I’m really grateful for this support from Chairman John Sika and from the teams’ project management unit to continue that project on, during the last 18 months,’’ said Aslop.
He said that unfortunately his family left Solomon Islands in March last year and they’ve been living in a hotel in Brisbane for the last 18 month while supporting the team remotely during that time.
“Overall I’m very excited again to be supporting the high performance programme for the SI. We aim within the next few months to ensure that the SI –National Institute of Sport is internationally accredited, which also means that will be on a bench mark of only 80 other high performance Complex around the world,’’ Aslop said.
He added that there is an incredible amount of potential and talent in the athletes and cultures of the country and the credits needs to be recognized of the govt of SI for investing in such an important program that will continue not only to see success in sport but the athletes to be successful in life as they move through their journey in sport, not only for 2023 but beyond.
“So I think the govt deserve a lot of recognition in terms of supporting this programme and I’m really looking forward to getting back soon and seen all you face to face. Thank you once again for this opportunity and the support,’’ he said
Meanwhile Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said during his announcement at his office last Friday that his government will ensure the country’s preparation towards the Sol2023 Pacific Games is granted.
