BSP 7th PNG Games

With the assistance of former WNB Provincial AIDS Committee (PAC), stalls for awareness and free HIV testing were set up.

Other health and social awareness include the PNG Cancer Foundation awareness and a new local organisation called the Male Advocacy Network (MAN), which promotes a fair, safe, healthy and wiser, violence-free community.

This initiative sets out to encourage men to step up and address violence by changing their attitude towards girls and women, beginning from their own home.

He praised the West New Britain organisers, through the host organising committee (HOC), the provincial government and the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF), for beating all odds to provide standard facilities not only for the PNG Games but for future events of this magnitude.

Despite the technical challenges that slowed the starting of the pool games, Sena is happy with the progress of the competition, which comprises 12 female teams and 13 male teams from 13 different provinces.

The current standings (as of 6:33am, November 25):

Bagging 4 gold medals for the Province were Peter Noel who ran the 3000 metre long distance event, Vavon Ignasia for the 400 metre dash under the ambulant women category, Samson Mason for the ambulant male 400 metre dash and Christine Wibeyaba under the 50 metre dash under the Down Syndrome, women's category.

It was a high scoring affair with the city slickers edging through under the guidance of the experienced Bobby Vavona.

West New Britain settled for bronze in the mixed division.

Photo credit: Bobby Vavona

Sports competition manager, Philip Kamane, said athletics was supposed to start today but was moved to Saturday due to a number of factors.

“One is that many teams have yet to hand in their final entries and the other main reason is that quite a number of key technical officials have not yet arrived in Kimbe.”

Kamane said some of the key officials will arrive today, and he is hoping to get the competition underway by tomorrow.

He urged all team managers to contact him on 7262 0907 to confirm their final entries immediately.

Photo credit: Sophia Tuna

In the first match, Milne Bay batted first and was all out for 136 in 15.3 overs against hosts West New Britain. In reply, West New Britain were not able to handle the strong bowling attack of Milne Bay and were bowled out for 86 in the 18th over.

In the second match, Madang were too strong for Southern Highlands, winning by 56 runs.

Batting first, Madang were dismissed for a disappointing 96 runs while in reply, Southern Highlands were bowled out for only 40 runs.