Athletics PNG has confirmed that the PNG Air Highlands Momase Regional Championships will go ahead at the National Sports Institute in Goroka on September 12th and 13th.
This follows the approval granted by the PNG Sports Foundation’s Pandemic Management Committee to the Sport of Athletics to resume its training and competition programme with COVID-19 safe protocols in place.
The event had been scheduled for August 29 and 30 however, the decision was made on August 21 to defer the event by two weeks to complete the approval process and ensure the necessary organisational arrangements were in place.
APNG President Tony Green urged participating teams to familiarise themselves with the COVID-19 safe protocols which have been distributed to team leaders, and to observe and respect them during the event. This will include face masks for all athletes and officials which must be provided by teams.
In line with the current situation, large teams are not expected nor welcomed and Green urged teams to select only their best athletes.
Only authorised entrants will be permitted access to the venue and no entries will be accepted on the day of the event.
It is compulsory for teams to send a delegate to the Technical Meeting at 6pm Friday 11 September to finalise entries and collect Bib numbers. Visiting teams are expected from Simbu, Lae, Bulolo and Wewak. The small NSI development squad will also participate and are expected to be competitive in the sprinting events.
There will be a reduced number of field events, with no high jump or triple jump and no hurdles races. Events will as usual be conducted in the Open and U18 divisions, with sprint events only in the U16 division.