Pacific Games:

'Faster Pace Needed'

From a Staff Writer in Suva

With only 12 months to go before sportsmen from all over the South Seas meet in Suva for the area’s biggest sporting event yet—the first South Games—many people here are concerned lest the organisers find themselves in trouble.

THE Games will take place in Suva from August 29 to September 7, 1963.

It is possible that the organisers will need more staff, and possibly more money, if the Games are to be organised successfully. There has been criticism that the pace so far has been too slow—not for the want of any enthusiasm by the organisers, but because of the shortage of men to handle the many problems that arise in a task of this magnitude.

There have been suggestions that the South Pacific Commission will offer to make organisers and possibly a publicity man available to help out, but nothing has yet been decided.

The organising committee which operates from Suva, has meanwhile written to Perth to obtain minutes of all the committees and sub committees which have been or ganising the Commonwealth Games there, in the hope that Suva can make some short cuts.

One of the problems appears to be that the dog has been inclined to chase its tail. For instance, the or ganisers have not drawn up a full list of the Suva events and circulated them to the Pacific territories, be cause they don’t know what events to organise until they know which terri tories want to take part in what.

There must be four territories com peting in an event before it can be held, otherwise it is listed as an “exhibition” event.

It has apparently been assumed in Suva that one of the main reasons why territories have been tardy in sending back lists of the events they’ll compete in is because they are still trying out their athletes to see what talent they have available.

This is true enough, but it also seems to be true that many territories have not informed Suva of their

events because they have been ’ for Suva to tell them what they propose to stage.

Territories can co-operate fcd plying the information as quio possible, and more work will hi from the Suva end.

The “official” events at the have already been decided as att soccer and tennis. But the Council has decided it will j it can get enough entrants, b<( golf, hockey, rugby, possibly 1 ming, weight-lifting, wrestling,,; and women’s basketball and boo None of this means that Sm not made progress with muchri planning. It has plenty off ideas, and now that the chairr the organising committee, Mr.i Common (Fiji’s energetic, working Director of Works) ■ turned from long leave andfc over the reins of the organn there will be additional drive\ Common is noted as a man wv things done.

In addition, all committee mn are aware of the many problem:

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New Guinea's Hope: P-Ng Athle

putting all their energies into train the Commonwealth Games in P[?] November—knowing at the san that this way they can achieve at the South Pacific Games in Suva P-NG Assistant Patrol Officer lean (right) breasts the tape at a Rabau ing. He recently set a new P-NGc of 100 yards in 10 seconds, an bright hope for the Gamesa

to be aware of them is a long way towards solving them.

The Fiji Government has made a financial grant for capital works, and as a result a new concrete stand seat ing 700 has just been finished at Buckhurst Park, a 10-minute car drive from the heart of Suva, which is to be the main venue for the Games. It is right on the shore of Laucala Bay, near the RNZAF flying boat base.

There is another 700-seat stand in existence, and an embankment has been built, together with turnstyles.

Fencing is going up, drainage is being completed, and part of the ground is to be regraded. Heavy rains have put some of the work be hind schedule.

A new basketball court, which will also serve as a boxing ring, has been built.

Teams and officials will be accom modated at a number of points around Suva, notably in the Nasinu Teachers’ Training College and in the Suva Grammar School hostel.

The accommodation committee is arranging accommodation in private homes for visitors who might find the many Suva hotels booked out for the Games. Official advice to those who want hotel accommodation is: Book now.

The fund raising committee is faced with the task of finding money for such items as javelins, hurdles, stop watches, bunting and all the many bits and pieces that go into a big sporting event.

One official said: “It wouldn’t sur prise us that once Suva has these things, other territories will be con tent to let us have the Games for the next few years so they won’t have to make similar pay-outs!”

The South Pacific Games are to be held every three years. Where the next venue is has not been decided.