BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
IT has been emphasized that athletes from the Solomon Islands who lack a passport would not be allowed to compete in this year’s XVII Pacific Games 2023, which are scheduled to take place in Honiara from November 19 to December 2.
The National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) issued similar cautions to Federations in August of this year, urging them to give passport purchases significant consideration before their athletes may qualify for this year’s Pacific Games.
On the Radio Talk Back Show on October 8 at the SIBC, Dr. Jimmy Rodgers and Mr. Morris Maitaki, Chairs of the 2023 Pacific Games National Hosting Authority and NOCSI, stressed the significance of eligibility requirements for Team Solomon athletes.
According to Dr. Jimmie Roger, the deadline for submitting the list expired last Thursday (5, October).
“However, another key deadline for late submissions is the number of days until the Pacific Games in November, which fall on October 28.
He stated that the Chef de Mission (CDM) will convene at this time to determine the entire final roster before to the games, which are scheduled for October 28. Those without passports will be expelled at that point, according to Dr. Rogers.
According to him, this implies that athletes who lack passports must obtain them.
“On that subject, let me just add that the government is prepared to help you get a passport.
“So those of you without passports, please let us know so that we may give priority consideration to getting your passport before that date to the director of immigration and permanent secretary of the ministry of commerce.
“Because if you don’t have a passport, even if you have the capacity to win a gold medal, you’re still outside.
“We rely on Team Solomon please send us the list of those still struggling to get their passport,” Dr. Rogers stated.
Meanwhile, the passport will also need to be marked with the athletes’ identifications and choices, according to Mr. Maitaki, and made public to all 24 participating Pacific Island nations for challenge.
“The passport is the only thing they can use to contest. Because there are two ways to qualify: one is through passport-based citizenship, and the other is through residency.
“The Pacific Games Charter (PGC) only accepts valid passports; all other forms of identification are not accepted.
“If your passport is late, your name will be released according on the PGC. We use codes to enter the names. On the final list, some names don’t even have passports. We therefore have no authority or control over them, even if we enter them and the PGC says OUT.
“As you are all aware, a pre-delegate registration meeting (DRM) will take place 30 days prior to the opening ceremony under the PGC. After 30 days, PGC certification will reopen so that the final lists certified by NOCSI and CDM may be verified before accepting the confirmed names.
“Any alteration, injury, or replacement within this time of 30 days prior to the opening ceremony—any addition—is when you’ll be included prior to the opening ceremony.
“The eligibility challenge would be available on day 22. For this reason, we suggest that every athlete obtain a passport. Because those passports will need to be labeled with the athletes’ names and choices before being made public and up for challenge to all 24 Pacific Island governments, according to Maitaki.
He claimed that the passport is the only item they could use to object.
He stated that the final DRM, where the CDM and PGC would reaffirm any last-minute changes, would take place four days prior to the opening ceremony of the Pacific Games 2023.
