Samoa declared 'ready' to host 2019 Pacific Games

Samoa has been declared "ready" to host the 2019 Pacific Games, which get underway in Apia one week from today.

Radio NZ reports about 3,500 athletes from 24 nations across the region will compete in 26 sports from next Monday.

Samoa was only awarded the hosting rights in September 2017 after the Tongan government claimed it could not afford to stage the event.

But Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue says the Pacific Games Office in Samoa has done a very good job in a very short amount of time to ensure everything is ready to go.

Apia Park will host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2019 Pacific Games.

Samoa will be the biggest team of athletes in Apia, with just over 500 competitors.

It was Papua New Guinea who topped the medals table in Port Moresby four years ago.

Fiji finished fourth in the 2015 Pacific Games.

Radio NZ