2015 Pacific Games

His case of misappropriation allegations was dismissed today by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika after the state filed a notice they will not continue with his case to trial because they do not have enough evidence.

“It’s a huge relief for me simply because I’ve been put through 11 months of torture for something that from day 1 maintained that I have never done wrong,” he told Loop PNG after court this morning.

Tkatchenko said this commitment is evident in state-of-the-art sports infrastructure that was built for the 2015 Pacific Games and the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

He said these facilities will remain a legacy for many sportsmen and women.

“As part of the Government’s commitment to give sports in PNG an opportunity to reach greater heights, we must remain a greater stakeholder.

“This is to ensure that the interests of our sportsmen and women remain paramount,” Tkatchenko said.

PNG currently has a total of 30 players on the elite squad for both women and men.

TFPNG will be looking to expand the team following the 2017 National Touch Championships in Port Moresby, proposed for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.

TFPNG president Dadi Toka Jr told Loop PNG that this selections will also be in preparation for future international events leading up to the 2019 World Cup.

Toka confirmed that they will select a total of 60 players after the national championships.

Jean Kaltack was Vanuatu’s top scorer, scoring 16 goals in the win for the country ranked 200 in the world and the defeat, with 

The supervisor of the Pacific Games Medical Services, Nona Diya, said medical services will be provided for athletes, technical officials, VIPs, spectators, anti-doping control and local clinics.

Diya said the Games Organising Committee (GOC) has enlisted the help of the medical personnel because not all teams travelled with their own staff.

“The athletes are our priority for specialist health care for injuries sustained on the field of play,” Diya said.

Max continued her good form, running in two more touch downs in what was a walk over for her team.

Kiribati were left scoreless and could not find the try line.

The win is PNG’s fourth consecutive win and they are all but assured of a place in the finals,  topping the round robin ladder.

Competition will be held at the PNG Power Dome (SJGS indoor complex) starting in a few minutes.

The 69kg men's finals start is proceeding. PNG lifters taking part are Nou Puka, Samuel Judah and Stalin.

People are still coming into the weightlifting venue, with security tight and officers doing manual checks on the bags for all spectators, athletes and officials. 

The PNG boys have so far proved too fast and versatile for Tuvalu who are trying to keep up with their pacy game.

Cultural groups who came from Bougainville, Morobe, East Sepik, Jiwaka, Mendi, Daru, Gulf and East New Britain are residing at the PNG Education Institute.

Morobe has brought in the highest number of cultural groups with 93 performers.

Out of the 93 performers, 30 dancers come from Malai in the Tewai Siasi District, 30 from Yalu and a 33 member conch shell band from Buingim in Nawai District. 

Morobe provincial minister for sports and culture Amos Wallace said they’re proud to be part of the opening ceremony.

National television station EMTV and the National Broadcasting Corporation will be providing full coverage of the Games.

Kundu 2 and Click television will both be providing a relayed telecast of most selected sports.

EMTV will be doing 23.5 hours coverage which will include daily coverage from 6am to 5:30pm.

The news will run for only 30 minutes from 5:30pm to 6pm daily before the live coverage continues from prime time 6pm-9pm.

More content will continue overnight including highlights of the day.