Facilities at the Don Bosco Technical Institute were upgraded by Australian Government funding of around SBD$2.143 million (£205,000/$255,000/€239,000), with improvements beginning in December last year made to four buildings at the school.

Australia has been among the leading nations which has supported the Pacific Games with a pledge of AUD$17 million (£8.8 million/$10.9 million/€10.3 million) in funding, but Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare claimed in July it and New Zealand had withheld financial support.

However, Sogavare was in attendance at the Don Bosco Technical Institute to receive the upgraded facilities from Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands Rod Hilton, where he thanked the Australian Government for its support.

The Don Bosco Technical Institute is set to provide accommodation and catering for athletes and officials at this year's Pacific Games as one of six sites for such usage, but Sogavare claimed its improvements represented a legacy for the multi-sport event.

Sogavare also praised the school for its readiness to contribute to the Solomon Islands' first staging of the Pacific Games.

"Your willingness to be part of our country’s efforts to host our brothers and sisters from the 24 participating countries in the Pacific Islands region, will ensure that our country will successfully host the 17^th chapter of the Pacific Games in November this year," he said, as reported by the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation.

Hilton expressed Australia's ongoing support to improve education infrastructure and learning equipment in the Solomon Islands.

School principal Paul Daro added the improvements would benefit the nation as a whole.

"These renovations will not only benefit the school but the people of the Solomon Islands as a whole," he said.

"I would like to sincerely thank Australia, the National Hosting Authority, and contractors for implementing the renovation activities on time and completing them."

Earlier this week, Sogavare had also received the Australian-funded SBD$4.3 million (£412,000/$511,000/€480,000) Iumi Water Sports Park set to host kayaking and sailing at the Pacific Games from Hilton.

China has heavily backed the Pacific Games as part of its increasing influence in the region, but Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Japan have also provided financial aid.

The Pacific Games is scheduled for November 19 to December 2, four months later than initially planned with the delay blamed on COVID-19.