Tonga's National Olympic Committee says it verbally expressed an interest in hosting the 2027 Pacific Games, but nothing has been agreed to.
Photo: Pacific Games Service Trina Edwards
At the Pacific Games Council AGM on Sunday, Tonga was one of six nations to say they're interested.
Tonga belatedly withdrew from hosting this year's games and is being sued by the council for breaching the hosting agreement.
Listen to an interview with Amanaki Fakakovikaetau on Dateline Pacific
However, the Tonga committee vice president Amanaki Fakakovikaetau said there's hope the country can host the games in the future.
He said the committee didn't know the 2027 games was on the meeting agenda so had to act quickly.
"If we missed [the opportunity to] express our interest in this meeting, we will never have our interest shown again. The next meeting will be discussing another item. They will be discussing the interest for the 2029 Mini Games."
However, Mr Fakakovikaetau said the National Olympic Committee still needs to discuss a potential hosting bid with the government.
"The bidding process, they need the government reassurance that they will support first and foremost so we will go back and sit down and what they see. I mean the current government. There is nothing 'dealed' and done yet."
The crowd gets into the spirit at the Pacific Games Opening Ceremony. Photo: Games News Service/Roland Setu