The Government here have strongly backed the country’s Pacific Games bid, investing more than K1.2 billion (£2.8 billion/$4.3 billion/€3.9 billion) in sporting infrastructure here.

Tkatchenko believes staging the Commonwealth Games, which usually attracts athletes from 71 countries and  territories, would not be an issue for the country.

“The Commonwealth Games has the same amount of athletes we are hosting right now during this Pacific Games," he said. 

“It’s not much different to the Pacific Games - it just takes you to that next level.

“These facilities are internationally recognised so in that regard we can host the Commonwealth Games.

“So Commonwealth Games, bring it on!”

Samoa are due to host the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games, which are scheduled to begin on September 5 and last until September 11, but as yet no Pacific island has ever staged - or even bid for - the Commonwealth Games.

The event has, however, been staged in Australia on four occasions and New Zealand three. 

Australia is also due to host the next edition of the Commonwealth Games, in 2018.

The 2022 version, meanwhile, seems certain to be awarded to an African country for the first time with Durban the only bidder following the withdrawal of Edmonton in Canada. 

Barring criticism of the Games Village from the New Zealand football team, the Pacific Games venues have largely been well received, although surrounding parts of some remain incomplete, such as car parks and gravel outside the Sir John Guise Stadium.

Concerns were raised in the build-up to the Games that the Taurama Aquatic Centre would not be ready in time but it has proved to be one of the crown jewels of the event so far and saw 30 Pacific Games records broken during the swimming competition.

“That is a history set for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific,” Tkatchenko added.

“No other Pacific Games have achieved over 30 Games records in swimming and this is a bonus for us.

“We have set a precedent in our facilities.”

The country already has the first step in place in their plan to ensure these Games form a sporting legacy for Papua New Guinea, a key mantra Tkatchenko has spoken of during the event, with the announcement that next year’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships will take place here.

It represents a major boost for the sporting development of the country as weightlifting is considered as one of the top sports in the Pacific.

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