Papua New Guinea is weighing up a bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
Speaking during the closing ceremony for the Pacific Games in Port Moresby, the country's Governor General, Michael Ogio was applaused when he said PNG should should bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Pacific Games Council says the 2015 Games in Port Moresby surpassed all expectations and praised the venues as top class.
The Executive Director of the Games Council, Andrew Minogue, says the Commonwealth Games is a logical next step.
"We all understand that Papua New Guinea has some ambitions to host other international events following these 2015 Games and we also understand that, compared to the other countries in the Pacific, they have a much bigger population base and a bigger need for the local communities to have sporting facilities of this magnitude. So there's an ambition here in Port Moresby that other Pacific Island hosts just don't have, and it's absolutely realistic for PNG to have that goal around the Commonwealth Games and other international events."
Papua New Guinea will also be hosting next year's FIFA Women's Under 20 Football World Cup.
The 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby have been declared a success. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie
