PACIFIC GAMES COUNCIL
PRESS RELEASE
Monday 11 December 2006
Noumea, New Caledonia
The President of the Government of New Caledonia Mrs. Marie-Noelle Themeraeu and the President of the Pacific Games Council Vidhya Lakhan met this morning in Noumea to formally sign a memorandum of understanding between the Government of New Caledonia and the Pacific Games Council.
The MOU gives the Pacific Games a new human and sporting dimension, for the benefit of all States, Territories and communities in the Pacific. The Pacific Games Council recognizes that closer contacts between English speaking Pacific Island Countries and the French Pacific Territories represent an enriching opportunity to develop cooperation and exchanges. For these reasons, New Caledonia has responded favorably to the PGC's request and has agreed to participate in developing the body which will be in charge of promoting the Pacific Games.
In accordance with the decisions taken by the Pacific Games Council during its General Assembly held in Apia, Samoa on 14 May 2006, New Caledonia agrees to fund the development of the PGC within its 3-year development plan by means of a total contribution of 292,300 euros. This contribution will be subject to the transmission of the PGC's 2006-2009 business plan to the Government of New Caledonia, along with the provisional budget for its future executive and management body.
Within this partnership, the Pacific Games Council shall recruit a bilingual executive director for the body in charge of developing and promoting the PGC, including translation of all documents related to management and information. A PGC office will also be established in charge of developing and promoting the Pacific Games in New Caledonia for the period 2007-2011.
Attending the signing ceremony were Jean Pierre Djaiwe, President of the Sport Commission of the Congress of New Caledonia; Daniel Cornaille, President of New Caledonia Olympic Committee; Phillippe LePoul, Senior Advisor for cooperation in the sports sector, Government of New Caledonia; John Tierney, PGC Treasure and Jim Tobin, PGC Secretary General.
According to Lakhan, the Pacific Games Council will immediately begin recruitment procedures for the PGC Executive Director position, with an estimated hiring date of 01 April 2007.
Last Modified on 11/12/2008 14:14