THE Pacific Games Council has referred proposals for the change in the eligibility rules to a special review committee.
The change in the eligibility rule was one of two key issues on the agenda of the PGC general assembly at the Edgewater Resort and Spa on Monday (Fiji Time).
The other issue was the bid for the 2015 Pacific Games which was won by Papua New Guinea.
Norfolk Island proposed a change in the PGC charter relating to the eligibility rules.
PGC president Vidhya Lakhan said the issue needs to be thoroughly researched. "We also have to take into consideration the implications for what might happen to other countries if Norfolk proposal is accepted," Lakhan said.
"Therefore we have agreed with the concurrence of Norfolk Islands to defer the eligibility issue to another review committee to have a look at it in detail. Then they will recommend to the council as to which way we should move in terms of having a common eligibility to most if not all Pacific Games Council members."
Lakhan said the PGC recognises only Australian passport holders in the Norfolk Island.
He said there is a proposal to recognise New Zealand passport holders as well.
"But Norfolk says that they have two applicable passport that is Australian and New Zealand," Lakhan said.
"So the people living in on the island with New Zealand passport they should have the opportunity to represent Norfolk at the Pacific Mini Games. At the present time under our charter the applicable passport for Norfolk is an Australian passport."
Meanwhile the PNG government has assured a $US100 million grant for the 2015 Pacific Games.
