The 2015 Pacific Games is an opportunity to reshape how the world views Papua New Guinea, according to the CEO of the Games Organising Committee, Peter Stewart.

The Pacific Games swimming pool under construction

‘Anyone who thinks the 2015 Pacific Games is just a sporting event is greatly underestimating the scale, scope and potential of this project,’ he says.

‘Wherever I travel throughout the Pacific talking to the leaders of our participating Nations, I am always asked will it be safe for their teams to come.

The 2015 Pacific Games CEO, Peter Stewart

‘Those of us who live in this wonderful country know that the perception of most of the rest of the world is far from the truth.’

Visitors

Stewart says the Games could attract more than 4,000 visitors, who he wants to return home with stories of how friendly and welcoming PNG is to tourists and businesses.

‘Word of mouth tributes from first-hand experience is far more effective than millions of Kina spent on advertising campaigns.’

He says nearly 300 international media personnel will produce stories about PNG in general, as well as reporting on the Games.

He says 1500 hours of broadcast material being produced by the Games Organising Committee for distribution throughout the world across television, satellite, cable, internet and digital phone networks will play an important role in changing the perceptions of PNG.

Sir John Guise athletics stadium under construction

New facilities

Stewart says he expects the K1.2 billion being spent on the Games and new facilities will allow PNG to attract other major sporting, cultural and business events.

‘These major events further enhance the reputation of the nation and continue the promotion strategy, while also attracting important overseas investment in the form of hotel beds and restaurants filled, not to mention work for local companies to support these events.’

In addition to sporting facilities under construction in Port Moresby—most notably, a new swimming centre and a re-built Sir John Guise Stadium—there are also major infrastructure projects currently under way. These include the Kookaburra Flyover, which will connect Jacksons International Airport to Waigani, a ring-road around the Paga Hill beachfront in Town, and the Games Village at the University of PNG, which will be converted to student accommodation once the games are over.