The Tongan Olympic Committee says the government's decision to withdraw its support for hosting the 2019 Pacific Games doesn't add up.
More than 40 delegates, representing 17 sports, discussed the matter at a Special General Meeting earlier this week.
The Secretary General of TASANOC, Takitoa Taumoepeau, told Vinnie Wylie they remain hopeful the government will change its mind.
TASANOC's Takitoa Taumoepeau.
Photo: TASANOC Facebook
Transcript
TAKITOA TAUMOEPEAU: We were not consulted and that's why there's a concern from our members - the national federations - of what actually happened because the government has given the reason that it is financial but we have worked our homework and looked critically and carefully at all these financial commitments and we disagree with what they have given us. There was a special meeting amongst the general assembly of TASANOC and the members were unanimously agreed to go back and ask government to hold further discussions and map out what will be resolved so that we can still host the games here in 2019.
VINNIE WYLIE: Is there optimism that the government can be convinced to reverse their decision because it was only weeks ago that the Prime Minister was talking about building a new golf course, saying in Parliament that he was committed to Tonga hosting these games?
TT: That's what we don't really know or understand because there were a few members of his cabinet who were not here in Tonga when the decision was made. Now we are looking at asking the Deputy Prime Minister, who is the Acting Prime Minister at the moment, to please sit down with us and discuss honestly what is really going on, because he is saying that the reason is financial yet he's continuing with his golf project - the new golf project - which costs even more than what we have been looking at the contribution from government. I think in the next couple of weeks or so, plus the returning of the Prime Minister, we just want to sit down and discuss honestly what's really happening because early in the month he was confirming that the games was on and preparation was on track and then a few days later they came up with a different decision.
VW: What is TASANOC's view about the progress towards 2019 - were you feeling confident?
TT: We did table it out and present it to the audit and government finance meeting earlier in the month our full budget, what it would cost to host the games here. Interestingly the contribution from government is not that much...even if it comes to reduce the number of sports programs because at the moment we can entertain or host ten sports programs that are conducted indoor. We already have the indoor gym, the hall and everything here so it is a minor renovation and upgrading so, if they're saying it's financial, it doesn't really add up when you look at all these things we need to do.
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