The French Pacific territory of Wallis and Futuna says it has earmarked some 625,000 US dollars as part of it financial package to ensure participation of its athletes at the 2007 South Pacific Games, to be held in Apia this year.
The financial package, approved late last week, means the territory will be able to send a team of some fifty athletes and a dozen officials to the region's major sporting event.
Local sports officials say they had hoped that the French-supplied money would allow athletes to compete in neighbouring countries as part of their preparations for the Games.
