By Dionisia Tabureguci
The 2023 Pacific Games is on track for its November 2023 opening despite the costly aftermath of the riots in Solomon Islands. However concerns have been raised about the added pressure it now puts on the host nation’s public purse.
Peter Stewart, CEO of the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands told Islands Business the game facilities were spared from the recent riots and organisers are optimistic of their timely completion.
“While the damage… to certain localised areas of shops and businesses in Honiara was severe, most of the city was unaffected and none of the Games venues were damaged,” Stewart said.
“Progress on construction of the new stadia continues on schedule and we have no doubt they will be completed in plenty of time to stage the Games. With almost two years still to the Opening Ceremony on 19th November 2023, we are confident that our planning and implementation is progressing well, and we look forward to the athletes, team officials and their friends and family visiting us here in Solomon Islands for the Pacific Games in 2023.”
Originally scheduled for July 2023, the Pacific Games 2023 was postponed to November due to delays in construction as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the situation now in Honiara following the riots is being closely monitored, according to the Pacific Games Council, the organising body of the Pacific Games.
“We remain convinced that Solomon Islands can host the 2023 Pacific Games with the on-going support of the Government and sporting stakeholders. The Games must be held in 2023 because they cannot be held in an Olympic year (2024), so there will be no further postponement,” said CEO Andrew Minogue.
Prior to last week’s unrests, the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) had cautioned the Government of the need to strictly manage its budget for the 2023 Pacific Games to avoid undue financial pressures.
“Although the nation takes pride in hosting the 2023 Pacific Games, it is a commitment that could put huge pressure on government finances if not managed well,” CBSI noted in its Macroeconomic Update in July.
At the time, huge declines in revenue, rising debt, low cash reserves and a generally weak domestic economy due to COVID-19 were of major concerns.
The riot and subsequent damage, now estimated by CBSI to cost SI$534 million (US$66m), has only worsened things.
“The riot has further exacerbated the weakening state of the economy against the backdrop of a widening fiscal deficit and depleted government reserves,” CBSI Governor Luke Forau told Islands Business.
“The government’s capacity to meet its financial commitment of 36% of the SBD$1.5billion (US$186m) expenditure outlay towards the 2023 Pacific Games will be very difficult, given the bleak government revenue outlook following the aftermath of the riot. Already, hosting the 2023 Pacific Games comes on the back of pressing needs to address critical social services and large infrastructure gaps across the country. This means more budget support or debt financing will be needed which could lead to a rapid increase in government debt in the near to medium term,” Forau added.
The overall construction project for the Games is the biggest sporting investment ever made in Solomon Islands, with China financing the bulk of it.
Barring any more extreme political disturbances before November 2023, ordinary Solomon Islanders are assured of access to state-of-the-art sporting facilities after the Games.
“To all our sports people in the country, to all our youths, and to all the sports federations represented here this morning, these facilities belong to you – to use and enjoy, to build and harness your skills, to develop your talents in-order to be the best sports people you can be,” Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said at the groundbreaking ceremony in May.
The venues, he added, will be used for grassroots and high-performance sport, as well as community events.
The new sporting facilities will include a new 10,000-capacity National Stadium with 1000 VIP seats, an aquatics centre with a 50-metre competition pool and a 25m training pool, six-court tennis centre, a track for athletics with a full-size football and rugby field, a multi-purpose hall, a five-a-side hockey field, a double-story food court and office space for the Games Organising Committee.
