Tahiti has expressed concerns over the suitability of accommodation for athletes competing in the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed in November between the Samoa Government and accommodation providers in Upolu and Savai'i.
But the majority of athletes will now base themselves at the Methodist Church of Samoa's Faleula compound for the July Games after officials were only able to convince 30 hotels to come on board, which will only cater for one quarter of the 4000 beds required.
Methodist Church, Faleula, Samoa. Photo: Facebook / Alesi Kurisaru
The Vice President of Tahiti's Olympic Committee, Charles Villierme, said they have concerns the facilities will not enable athletes to perform to their best.
"We used to, like in New Caledonia (in 2011), have a different way of lodging the athletes but in Samoa at first we were told that all athletes were going to be in hotels and lately we had information that it would be at the Baptist Church lodging," he said.
"Our General Treasurer and our Chef de Mission have just come back from Samoa and they have inspected those housing for the athletes and we figure that it's not that it's bad but our athletes figure that they're not going to be in a good mood but we told them everybody is going to be at the same level."
Athletes from Tahiti during the opening ceremony of the 2011 Pacific Games in New Caledonia. Photo: AFP
Charles Villierme said some of the lodgings in the Faleula compound are in better condition than others.
"Because we were the first to be there and the first to have paid we have asked for those condominiums and they said they did not attribute (the lodgings) to any countries yet, so we have to wait.
"We might have with the ok of the Pacific Games Council maybe other suggestions....Next week we have a board meeting of the (Tahiti) Olympic Committee and then we have the final decision then."
Pacific Games Office CEO Falefata Hele Ei Matatia said in December he remained confident athletes will be provided with suitable accommodation during the July event.
He said discussions with the hotel sector were continuing.
