The Pacific Games Council has put contingency plans in place for the process of selecting an alternative host nation for the 2019 Pacific Games.

PGC chief executive Andrew Minogue confirmed this on a statement issued yesterday.

“The Pacific Games Council (PGC) executive board met on May 26 to address the Tongan Government’s letter of withdrawal from hosting the 2019 Pacific Games,” Minogue said.

“As part of its meeting, the executive board was addressed by Lord Vaea, acting president of TASANOC, and Lord Sevele, the chairman of the Tonga 2019 Pacific Games Organising Committee.

“The executive board resolved to make one last attempt to keep the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga. In 2012, the PGC membership voted emphatically for Tonga to host the Games and the executive board remains confident that Tonga can successfully deliver the event should the Government resume its support.”

In the Pacific way, the executive board is keeping the door open to the Tongan Government for a final short period to address its financial concerns with PGC in a spirit of cooperation.

“The PGC has previously written to the Prime Minister with this offer but will now ask TASANOC to facilitate an appointment for PGC representatives to meet with him and the Cabinet in early June to begin a process of fully reviewing the Games’ cost structures,” he stated.

“In the meantime, the executive board will advise its members that it has put contingency plans in place for the process of selecting an alternative host nation quickly in the event that matters with the Tongan Government are not fully resolved by June 30.”