Deadlock Over

P-Ng Site For

1969 Games

Papua-New Guinea in June couldn’t ake up its mind whether to stage e third South Pacific Games in 1969 Rabaul or Port Moresby. Mem rs of a special committee set up consider the matter had reached a adlock.

IHE first Games were held in Suva last year and the 1966 Games 11 be held in Noumea. At Suva, pua-New Guinea delegates in rmed the Games Council that the rritory would make an offer for j 1969 Games.

A decision has to be made by 1966, t ideally it should be made as Dn as possible so the site can be jpared.

High Cost

It has been estimated that wherever ; Games are staged in P-NG, it will st at least £250,000 of Administra n funds—most of it on a main aue and a swimming pool of ympic standard.

The Administration wants to spread s cost over at least five years.

The decision will be important for i town chosen—it will mean aranteed development in both )rting facilities and accommoda n.

About 900 athletes and officials iired into Suva for the first Games, ich also attracted thousands of itors.

This meant big money for Suva, 1 fine publicity, and Noumea will )rtly begin to benefit too.

The P-NG committee of five mem •s looked at Port Moresby, Rabaul i Lae as sites.

Lae was discarded and the voting s reported to be two for Port >resby and two for Rabaul, at ich point the chairman wouldn’t e his vote.

The position was then referred to Administrator, Sir Donald ;land, who looks like being in the fition of deciding one way or 3ther. Whatever he does will be Dng to some people.

See Tahiti Athletes Getting Steam Up For Noumea Games in 1966, p. 62.