With less than 100 days to go before the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Vanuatu Pacific Mini-Games, sports have been made aware of which athletes have been endorsed for Team PNG selection.
The selection has been made by the PNG Olympic Committee Justification Committee.
Sports on the Van2017 program met with the Justification Committee on August 26th and 27th to justify why their nominated athletes deserve selection onto Team PNG.
The JC membership comprises of two PNGOC representatives, the director of the PNG Sports Foundation’s National Sports Institute, three National Federation representatives and an Athletes Commission representative.
The Justification Committee deliberated and reached its decisions for each sport.
“Athletes have been endorsed from athletics, beach volleyball, golf, karate, netball, table tennis, tennis and weightlifting.
“Basketball 3 on 3, boxing and rugby 7s were given until after their respective selection events to provide names of their nominated athletes,” said the PNGOC.
Three sports that won’t have athletes competing in Van2017 are archery, football and judo.
“As a result of the JC meetings, the team size for Team PNG to Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini-Games stands at approximately 160.
“In line with the Athlete Selection Policies for each sport, there is an appeal process for athletes that have not been endorsed,” said PNGOC.
The 2017 Vanuatu Pacific Mini-Games will run from December 4-15.
The PNGOC is actively mobilising the resources required to send the team to Port Vila, with the Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenges in support of Team PNG taking place in Port Moresby and Lae in September and October respectively.
“The JC will be having similar athlete selection meetings later this year on October 20th and 21st with sports on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Program,” said the PNGOC.
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