The announcement was made by Papua New Guinea Weightlifting Federation (PNGWF) vice-president Frank Robby ahead of the final day of weightlifting competition here today.

Papua New Guinea were chosen ahead of Fiji after Samoa withdrew to back the country’s bid.

“That is why this Pacific Games is so special to us because we would be using this to test the facilities,” he said.

Robby also praised the work of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF), admitting the Port Moresby 2015 weightlifting event would not have been possible without the contribution of Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation secretary general Paul Coffa.

He went on to thank the Papua New Guinean Government for the help and support it has provided throughout the Games, which are due to draw to a close on July 18.

The OWF have staged their own Continental Championships as part of the 15th Pacific Games, with medals awarded to youths, juniors and seniors.

They held their Congress prior to the beginning of the Games in Port Moresby, where Fiji was announced as the hosts of next year’s Oceania Championships.

The weightlifting competition at Port Moresby 2015 was praised as a success by International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) President Tamás Aján, who stayed for the duration of the event.

He was briefly joined by vice-president Dato Ong Poh Eng and secretary general Attila Adamfi.

PNGWF President Sir John Dawanincura, who is also head of the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee, was in attendance as well. 

This year’s Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships are due to be held in Pune, India, from October 11 to 16.