Commonwealth Games

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games ready to impress

But come Wednesday it will officially become the host of the 21st Commonwealth Games.

It'll be the fifth time Australia has hosted the event.

Gold Coast's Games will cost $2 billion.

Hosting the Games is seen as a coming of age for Gold Coast as it seeks to move out of the shadow of Brisbane.

Team PNG farewelled

In her address at last night’s farewell function for Team PNG at the National Football Stadium, Wardley told the athletes that pride isn’t just created by winning medals but by the way they represent Team PNG, its values and the country.

“Every one of us will be part of building that pride.”

Wardley congratulated each and every one of the athletes.

Bmobile-vodafone backs Team PNG

They have supported with sponsorship packages for Team PNG athletes attending the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, next month.

In an agreement signed today, the deal sees a sustained commitment from bmobile-vodafone to support the Team PNG athletes.

Bmobile Group chief financial officer, Ali Contractor, spoke highly of the team efforts and preparations towards the Commonwealth Games, stating bmobile-vodafone was proud of sponsoring Team PNG.

Bolt's warning to Blake

The pressure is on Blake to fill the huge void left by sprinting icon Bolt's retirement from athletics following last year's IAAF World Championships.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist, the world record holder over 100 and 200 metres, playfully suggested to his former Jamaica team-mate that failure on the Gold Coast will land him trouble.

"Usain Bolt was at the track in Jamaica before I left," Blake told the media upon his arrival in Australia. "He said: 'If you don't win there is going to be problems.'

Success at Victorian swimming champs

The annual event, held from the 12th to the 14th of January at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC), saw some of Australia's best swimmers race in preparation for the Commonwealth Games trials being held at the end of February.

Weightlifters smash records at Pacific Mini Games

Among the outstanding stars at the Vanuatu Games is 17-year-old Samoan weightlifter Fegaiga Stowers, who set a new Commonwealth record in the women's 90kg class by lifting 108kg in the snatch, 131kg in the clean-and-jerk for a 239 kg total.

Papua New Guinea's Stephen Kari secured all three gold medals in the men's 93kg category by lifting 155kg in the snatch and 195kg in the clean-and-jerk.

International weightlifting referee Lilly Coffa, a trainer at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute in New Caledonia, says the athletes are ready for the Commonwealth Games.

Pacific businesses invited to leverage off Commonwealth Games

The idea amongst others was raised at the Trade 2018 GC2018 briefing held by representatives from the Office of the Commonwealth Games, Queensland Government, Lisa Ward and Yasmahne Hanel for invited guests at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland last week.

Ticket schedule for Commonwealth Games released

The schedule of sporting events has been released and for the next month people are being encouraged to consider which events they would like to attend.

Weightlifters challenged to perform

This will only become a reality as long as they train and attend competitions to meet the minimum qualification standards.

That includes top athletes and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Dika Toua and Steven Kari who missed out on the recent Rio Olympics.

This is the word from Papua New Guinea Weightlifting President Sir John Dawaninicura in an interview with Loop PNG news yesterday (Saturday) in Lae.

Rowing thrown Commonwealth Games lifeline

Under a new proposal adopted by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at its General Assembly here yesterday, host cities must in future include 16 core sports as part of the programme and then can choose as many as they want from a list of optional sports and disciplines as long as it does not exceed a further 500 athletes.

Rowing had been on the previous list of optional sports but has now been dropped, leading to Annamarie Phelps, the chairman of British Rowing, to launch a campaign to save it.