The Executive Board of the Pacific Games Council, after consultations with the 22 member Pacific Games Associations and the 24 Oceania Federations for the sports on the Games program, has approved the request from the Solomon Islands to delay the start of the 2023 Pacific Games from July to November. The revised dates for the 2023 Pacific Games will be 19 November to 2 December 2023.
Due to COVID-19 causing inevitable delays to the commencement of the venue construction program in Honiara, the Games organisers requested this change of dates from the original 16-29 July 2023 schedule.
The Pacific Games Council has been assured that the venue construction program, largely supported by the Chinese, Indonesian, and Papua New Guinea Governments, and which is underway, should be completed by mid-2023, but a July Games allowed little time to test the venues and make them fully operational. Nor would it allow for contingencies in the event of further slippage in the construction program due to natural causes like heavier than usual rains. These additional four months of preparation time will allow the venues to be fully completed and tested.
The Pacific Games Council wishes the Solomon Islands well with their continuing preparations to host the 17th Pacific Games in 2023.
Words from Pacific Games Council media release.