Port Moresby 2015 officially open Caritas Hall venue as POM Racquets Club gets temporary rebranding

Caritas Hall has been officially opened as a Pacific Games venue ©Port Moresby 2015

Port Moresby 2015 have announced the Caritas Hall venue is officially open, while Steamships will be the title sponsor of the POM Racquets Club as preparations continue ahead of the Pacific Games, due to begin on July 4.

The multi-purpose hall, which will host bodybuilding, table tennis and boxing during the Games, was handed over to Port Moresby 2015 earlier this month and is expected to be one of the centrepieces of the event.

It has seating for 11,000 and Port Moresby 2015 claim it will be full to capacity for the boxing competitions, which are close to selling out.

“One of the symbolic thing is how we partner with the local communities to deliver the Games,” Port Moresby 2015 chairwoman Emma Waiwai said.

"Caritas is one of the last venues that we had on our list and I am very impressed with it and I know that every athlete that takes part in the three sports will be very happy with the venue.’’

Port Moresby 2015 have also confirmed that the POM Racquets Club will be renamed the Steamships Racquets Club for the duration of the event, widely-expected to be the biggest ever held in the Papua New Guinea.

The venue becomes the fourth at the Games to take on a temporary name in an attempt to reflect the gratitude Port Moresby 2015 have for their vast array of sponsors.

The Taurama Aquatic Centre is one of four to be renamed for the Games and the latest addition to the list is the POM Racquets Club ©Port Moresby 2015

The Sir John Guise Stadium, which will host the Opening Ceremony attended by Prince Andrew, will be known as the Bank South Pacific Stadium throughout the two-week long event.

The company are the principal sponsor of the Games and they have also attached their name to the Taurama Aquatic Center, which will temporarily be called the BSP Arena.

Meanwhile, the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium becomes the PNG Power Dome for the event.

“We are proud to have Steamships and all our other sponsors together with the Government supporting the Games,” Port Moresby 2015 chief executive Peter Stewart said.

“The support they bring is paramount to the success of the country hosting the XV Pacific Games.”

Around 3,000 athletes from 23 nations are due to compete across 28 different sports at the Pacific Games, scheduled to take place until July 18.