PNG Games 2016

Five mini stadiums are built with two in Kimbe town that will host the track and field  events while the other stadium is for other ball games like volleyball, soccer and basketball, that are still framed and awaiting completion by Nivani Construction Company.

The other three are built just outside of town where two are just off the town boundary in Kulingi and Kapore while the furthest is in Hoskins just outside the aiport gates.

The concerns arose due to the circulation of an incorrect entry form around provinces, quantifying that each province is only allowed to register two athletes per event.

Athletics PNG President Tony Green clarifies that each province may nominate a maximum of three athletes for any event, including the half marathon.

“Any athlete may participate in a maximum of three individual events plus the relays. This may be three track events or three field events or a combination of the two,” Green said.

The sports gear was presented to the squad  today to assist in their preparation for the 7th PNG Games in Kimbe.

General Manager of Wass Matau Limited, Danny Gabong handed over the items to the team at the famous Laiwaden oval during the team’s training session.

Gabong explained to the players that it is not the first time Wass Matau had provided such assistance to sporting groups. It previously presented K35,000 to Team Madang to attend a tournament in Rabaul and had also assisted organized community sporting events in Rai Coast district of Madang.

The money was presented today to the Host Organizing Committee for the Games to ensure the two week event is a success.

SP Brewery’s Managing Director, Stan Joyce said the company was excited to be part of the biggest local sporting event in the country with participation from the 22 provinces. 

“SP Brewery is a staunch supporter and promoter of sports in the country as underscored by its long-term association with the different sporting codes in the country to expose and develop hidden sporting talents amongst Papua New Guineans.

So far, two meetings have been held with the recent one on August 27 at the San Remo Club.

The WNB Milne Bay Team committee comprises of chairman Frank Kapudia, treasurer Max Kilokilo, vice chair Patterson Bogar and secretary Maxwelline Ganubella.

“The purpose of us meeting and discussing is to ensure our people feel at home away from home and to provide moral support to them as they participate in the games,” said Bogar.

Team Madang General Manager John Gringo and Madang Provincial Community Development Assistant Advisor Joe Bande in a meeting yesterday said Team Madang preparation is going well and credit goes out to code sponsors and general team sponsors.

Bande said Madang Provincial Government, Ramu Agri Industry Limited, Wasmatau Limited, RD Tuna Canners Limited and others have supported Team Madang well in the last PNG Games and have come on board again to support the team.

However, some people of Madang have raised serious issues about what they call the late notice of the games which must include all the districts.

Sumkar District long serving youth and sports advocate Fred Wasim claims that for all the Provincial games, the selection has been biased and based on players in town, especially in soccer, volleyball and basketball codes.

The ground work to field a competitive team for the 2016 Games started early this year, and next month will see the provincial games played to identify potential athletes.

The games will be played in the provincial capital, Wewak, on November 6.

“Focus of the provincial games is to pick a train on squad for Team Sepik,” said Clarence Hukahu, Team Sepik manager.

 “By December, we expect to finalise the squad and run training for the individual codes.”