VASANOC says Team Vanuatu will not participate in the 2027 Pacific Games in French Polynesia unless the Government of Vanuatu provides the necessary financial commitment for the team’s participation.

The position was announced by VASANOC President Antoine Boudier following the organisation’s latest Executive Meeting, as VASANOC raised concerns over the lack of government financial support for Team Vanuatu’s participation in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and other major international competitions.

Mr Boudier said the decision on the 2027 Pacific Games was not taken lightly, given the importance of the event to Vanuatu’s athletes and national sporting federations.

“The Pacific Games are extremely important to our athletes and federations as quite often athletes need to compete at Pacific Games as qualifying pathways towards higher games such as Commonwealth and Olympic level.”

VASANOC says it has presented Government with budgets and explanatory documents over many years outlining Vanuatu’s international multisport commitments and the financial requirements involved.

Mr Boudier said athletes should not have to face uncertainty each time they qualify to represent Vanuatu, while sporting federations should not continually be required to find funding after athletes have earned the opportunity to compete internationally.

He said VASANOC could not continue carrying national multisport obligations without an appropriate and predictable partnership with Government.

VASANOC plans funding framework to 2032

VASANOC says it wants to change the way Vanuatu plans and funds its international sporting commitments.

The organisation will present Government with a long-term strategic plan covering Vanuatu’s major international sporting obligations through to 2032.

The plan will identify major competitions, anticipated participation requirements and the budgets needed to prepare and send Team Vanuatu.

VASANOC also intends to include provision for appropriate government representation at major international sporting events, allowing ministers to attend, support athletes and represent Vanuatu alongside their international counterparts.

Mr Boudier said the objective was to move away from last-minute funding requests and establish a planned national sports funding framework.

Department says funding remains a challenge

In response to VASANOC’s concerns, the Department of Youth and Sports said it operates with the lowest budget within the Ministry of Justice despite the number of sporting activities taking place.

The Department said funding currently available for sports includes funding for Area Games, which are normally held within Vanuatu and are managed by the Sports Authority.

For major international events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Department said it does not have dedicated funding and must seek additional funding each time.

The Department said it has submitted New Project Proposals to Government in recent years seeking funding support, but those proposals have not been approved.

It said a proposal submitted last year by the Director of Youth and Sports to support national sporting federations also did not proceed.

The Department said this makes it difficult to provide sporting organisations with a confirmed amount of funding when there is no approved funding source available.

VASANOC says its proposed long-term plan is intended to address this uncertainty and provide a more predictable approach to funding Team Vanuatu’s international sporting commitments.