The Pacific Games Council says Papua New Guinea has delivered on its promise of hosting an outstanding event.
The 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby have been declared a success. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie
The 2015 Games came to a close in Port Moresby at the weekend, with the host nation finishing atop the medal tally with 88 gold, 69 silver and 60 bronze, ahead of New Caledonia and Tahiti.
PNG were awarded hosting rights six years ago and at one stage the construction of some facilities was two years behind schedule.
The Executive Director of the Games Council, Andrew Minogue, says a lot of things only fell into place at the last minute but ultimately the government, organising committee, and the country delivered.
"Papua New Guinea promised in the bid stage that they would deliver an outstanding Games and they did. There is tremendous legacies for sport and the host country. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister [Peter O'Neill] last night promised that he and his government would fund the sports programme at least for the next four years, so that they could try and retain their number one position at the next Games in Tonga. It's very important to the Games Council that it's not just about hosting the event - it's about the athletes and developing their athletes into the future and those sort of commitments".
Andrew Minogue says one thing that needs to be improved in future is getting earlier access to sporting venues, more than a week or two before the start of competition.