THERE will be no men’s softball event at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea this year.
In a statement, the 2015 Pacific Game Organising Committee, in conjunction with the Pacific Games Council, regretfully advised that the Men’s Softball Tournament for the 2015 Pacific Games was cancelled because of lack of entries.
The committee said following the closure of entries at midnight on May 20, PNG was the only team to enter.
Under the rules of the Pacific Games Charter this does not constitute a competition therefore no medal will be awarded for cancelled events.
GOC chief executive Peter Stewart said the cancellation was unfortunate.
“It is a decision the teams make and not ours. Already the Organising Committee is providing more support to the visiting teams than has ever been offered before in a Pacific Games,” Stewart said.
“It is clear that men’s softball can’t be supported outside of PNG for these set of Games. We understand the disappointment to the players and their fans.
“The silver lining in this is that the legacy for softball, in terms of the facility at Bisini, the sports equipment, and training of local PNG technical officials is all in place now and that will support the growth of softball here in PNG and the region in the future.”
The women’s tournament was still planned to run at the Bisini grounds.
The GOC is currently revising the schedule now to reflect the cancellation of the men’s competition and any impact to the women’s schedule.
All tickets sold for softball at Bisini will still be honoured as the ticket allows access to cricket, football, and lawn bowls at same venue.
* Pacific Games coverage courtesy of BSP
