22 Oct 2012

Sport: 2019 Pacific Games years in the making for Tonga

11:51 am on 22 October 2012

The Secretary General of the Tonga National Olympic Committee, Takitoa Taumoepeau, says securing the rights to host the 2019 Pacific Games has been years in the making.

Tonga and Tahiti were both vying to host the games and each gave a 30 minute presentation to delegates at the Pacific Games Council's General Assembly in Wallis and Futuna on Friday.

The delegates voted 16-6 in favour of Tonga.

Takitoa Taumoepeau says for four years they have been tirelessly working to win the right to host.

He says they gave it their all on the day of the presentation.

"When we came to this general assembly, we wanted to make sure that we dab on the right areas and key points, and why we really want this game to come to Tonga."

The Secretary General of the Tonga National Olympic Committee, Takitoa Taumoepeau.

The country will now need to find a budget of 70 million US dollars for the various construction of sports facilities and operational expenses for hosting the Games.