PNG’s Super Fish Ryan Pini is the flag bearer for Team PNG for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The news was announced today by Chef de Mission, Emma Waiwai at the farewell for Team PNG at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre, Port Moresby.
Waiwai described Pini as a great ambassador for sports in PNG saying he is the only PNG athlete to compete in the finals at an Olympic Games.
“Ryan is well recognized in PNG and the Pacific. Among many other achievements and awards include Member of the British Empire, Order of the Logohu, Best Male Athlete of the 2015 Pacific Games and winning the SP Sports Awards Male Athlete of the Year five times.
“Ryan’s consistent results show his hard work and dedication over the years and he is an inspiration to many Papua New Guineans,” said Waiwai.
For Pini, this will be his fourth Olympic Games. His first was back in 2004 in Athens, Greece.
“This is a great honour for me to carry the flag of PNG at my fourth Olympics. I will do so with all my heart. It’s pretty special to me and I will do my best with all your support,” said Pini.
Team PNG will depart for Brazil next Wednesday.