UPDATED: Pacific Games Council Seeking Legal Action Against Tonga

(ATR)Tonga will not host the 2019 Pacific Games, and the Pacific Games Council will be seeking legal recourse and a new host by August.

The PGC made one last visit to Tonga today to meet with the country’s Prime Minister to seek a solution to the 2019 Games situation. Last month Tonga said it would be pulling out as Pacific Games host following a report from the World Bank. The PGC set a deadline of June 30 to resolve the situation.

That deadline still stands according to PGC chief executive Andrew Minogue. Minogue told Around the Ringsthat contingency plans had been put in place by the PGC executive board to solicit new bids in the event of no resolution.

"If matters are not resolved by [June 30], the Executive Board will call for expressions of interest from other members wishing to host the Games," Minogue said to ATR. "The Board will then assess any bids with a view to making a recommendation on a new host by the end of August."

Minogue reiterated that in the case of a new host needing to be found, the PGC would work to avoid reducing the scope of the Games.

"It would depend ultimately on the sports program offered by any new host," Minogue added. "We would hope that as much of the Tonga program could be retained as possible."

During the visit the Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva reiterated the desire to withdraw from hosting, according to a release. As a result, the PGC said it would expedite the search for a new host and seek legal recourse to the Tongan government breaking its contract with the council.

"The Prime Minister said the Government wished to focus its resources on other more important areas of economic development and that sport was not an urgent priority for the Government," the PGC statement said. "The PGC expressed its disappointment in not being consulted before the decision was taken and in the Government’s unwillingness to negotiate a solution for whatever financial concerns it had.

"The Prime Minister was reminded that the Government is a party to a legally binding contract and that in unilaterally withdrawing from hosting the Games, the PGC would seek legal advice with a view to formally terminating the Host Agreement and to seek damages for breach of contract."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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