The Pacific Games have 10 corporate or government sponsors signed up to sponsor the games to date, totaling T$6,945,000, in either cash or on an in-kind basis.

In little over three months, Apia will host thousands of athletes, sports administrators and their supporters for the games, which will be held July 7-20. 

The Games Sponsorship Director Tagaloa Fouina Sua has said he is 75 per cent confident they will reach their ambitious target, which he could not disclose.

 “We’re just over 50 percent now,” he said. “We are still looking, trying to lock in the big ones, especially the silver ones. With the tax incentives given out to the business, it should be a selling point and we are confident that we can do it.”

“It’s a big target but we rely heavily on the Holy Spirit to guide us.”

Regional and international sponsors are also in sight, Tagaloa said, with more sponsorship announcements imminent.

“We are also negotiating and consulting with overseas sponsors, the regional ones that we will be disclosing imminently once we finalise that,” he said.

“It’s a massive undertaking from the business sector but I think they are inspired with what our country is offering to deliver these games.”

The unique and short amount of time to prepare for the Games has Tagaloa and the executive committee having to get creative, and learn on the go.

But that has been a positive experience, Tagaloa said, for the country as a whole.

“It’s a test for us and it’s really good to upskill. It’s a good experience for our people and everyone involved.

“We all play a part in hosting the games, not just the executive committee or the organising committee but everyone in Samoa.

“There is a saying in Samoan: faaopopo aso us ao aso folau e le tuua, no matter what the challenge is, our journey continues, and we will continue because we already committed to it.”

The latest sponsor on the list is SkyEye, who are offering $65,000 worth of technology platforms like vehicle tracking and accreditation software to make the games as efficient and smooth sailing as possible.

CORRECTION: A previous version of the graph incorrectly included $1.5 million given from the Pacific Games Office to SASNOC. This error is regretted, and the Samoa Observer apologizes for any confusion this error has caused.