Papua New Guinea to bid for 2026 Commonwealth Games

Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), July 20 (IANS)

Papua New Guinea has announced it is planning to bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The country revealed its plan after succesfully conducting the 2015 Pacific Games, that ended this weekend. “Can Papua New Guinea host a Commonwealth Games?” the country's Governor-General Michael Ogio asked the crowd at a packed stadium for the Pacific Games' closing ceremony on Sunday, reports Xinhua.

As the cheers went up, Ogio told the athletes and spectators, “Yes, together we can! Papua New Guinea must bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games here in Port Moresby, and at venues around the country,” Ogio said.

The Pacific Games have been held here for the past two weeks, showcasing the national sports of the Pacific nations as well as global sports of athletics, with the football tournament forming part of the 2016 Rio Olympics qualifying process.

Papua New Guinea topped the medals tally, earning 88 gold medals (217 medals total), followed by New Caledonia, 59 golds (165 medals), and Tahiti 39 golds (113 medals).