BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
SPORTING FACILITIES and avenues for the Pacific games 2023 in Honiara is projected to be ready by June 2023.
Chairman of the National Hosting Authority, Dr Jimmy Rodgers said that most of the preparation is expected to be completed by June.
According to Dr. Rodgers, the new and standard running track at King George the sixth would be completed end of this month and handed over to the SIG in Mid-April this year 2022.
The NHA Chairman, Dr Jimmy Rodgers on Friday, March 11 said that the Futsal court should be handed over to the government later this year.
The NHA will support the National Sports Council (NSC) to deliver the mission of its act, to assist National Sports Council to deliver its mission.
“We brief the cabinet this week, CEO of Games Organising Committee and his chair, Chair of facilities committee and the executive director of PMO and they make a good presentation on the facilities, all hands on deck, we will deliver,’’ he assured.
“The facilities would ready, the games will be delivered and it’s you who will deliver us the medals, if you can get more than 40, well done, if you cannot get 40 but you did your best, well done, you never know, maybe we can get 60,’’ he told Athletes.
He said the new home to Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) stadium would be completed also around June next year 2023.
“SIFF would have two international recognized football pitches.”
The NHA through its partners also recently signed a contract with the owners of DC Park to develop and improve for extra fields and court.
“We have recently signed a contract with the owners of DC Park where we want to develop and improve DC Park for extra fields for futsal and beach soccer, beach volleyball and a spare court.
“We projected all facilities to be fully completed by June next year to be ready for the games, so by June 2023 all the facilities for the games should be ready,” Dr. Rodgers said during the SINIS facility handing over ceremony last week.
According to Dr. Rodgers, the investment in the SINIS program is roughly about 130 million – until the games are delivered next year while almost a 70million has already been used.
According to Dr Rodgers, the land cost 36million, SINIS building alone is 23 million.
“The sports development is roughly around $130-150 million which is not in the original development budget, that is the investment in the development in sport in the country,’’ he said.
*FEATURED IMAGE: Board Chairman of the National Hosting Authority (NHA), Dr Jimmie Rodgers. NHA is responsible for overall coordination and monitoring of Games delivery items and expenditure of Government funds. PHOTO: Sol2023 XVII Pacific Games
