Emma Waiwai

Team PNG’s 2019 Chef de Mission says their aim is to finish at the number one spot.

Athletes are at the heart of the Olympic movement, hence the PNG Olympic Committee aims to ensure that they perform at their best.

Chef de Mission for Team PNG to Samoa 2019, Emma Waiwai, stressed that everything they do is for PNG’s athletes.

“Because on the day, we can shout and scream and do everything but it’s you that’s going to win the medal for us,” Waiwai told members of Team PNG during a media blitz on Friday.

Chef de Mission, Emma Waiwai, said Team PNG is in Vanuatu to compete and they are not leaving without achieving their goals.

“We are ready and are looking forward to taking back the spoils to PNG,” she said.

The team is expecting strong challenge from traditional rivals New Caledonia, Fiji and hosts Vanuatu.

“Everyone is here to give their best and we will ensure that they are able to do that to the best of their ability.

“At the end of competition we want to send everyone back satisfied that they gave their best,” said Waiwai.

The contingent of 148 athletes will see Team PNG take part in 10 of the 14 sports on offer which include boxing, netball, golf, tennis and weightlifting.

At the last Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna in 2013, Team PNG topped the medal tally winning 30 gold medals.

“From the analysis done by our office, thanks to Chris Amini, we forecast winning 45 gold medals, 28 silver medals and 24 bronze bronze medals. Will that be enough to come number one again? We’ll find out. For now, we’ll focus on the process and the results will come,“said Waiwai.

Deputy chairperson, Emma Waiwai, highlighted two main achievements of the year during the launch of the pageant for 2017 on Tuesday.

“One, we supported 41 girls at various tertiary institutions around the country. Two, we started our discussions with Melanesian Trustees Services Limited for an office space which is now a reality,” she said.

For far too long, MPIP has had no permanent office space.

The luncheon was attended by one of PNG’s pioneer female engineers, Emma Waiwai , Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer , Simon Foo and 40 female staff.

The event was the first to be organized by Air Niugini as an initiative of the current CEO to motivate and empower women in the workforce.

Mrs Waiwai, who worked for 26 years in the aviation industry was the guest speaker at the event, encouraging women to strive for excellence by motivating, inspiring and empowering each other.

She made this statement last night at the launching of Team PNG’s new emblem which also coincided with the 100 days mark before the Rio Olympics.

“While some of our athletes are already confirmed for Rio, others are still trying their best to make it.

“In athletics, we have established names like Toea Wisil, Nelson Stone being challenged by youngsters like Theo Piniau and Donna Koniel for the two athletics spots up for grabs.

In a Team PNG Media Blitz this morning in Port Moresby, Waiwai said Team PNG is still targeting  seven sports for the Rio Olympics- Athletics, Judo, Boxing, Swimming, Taekwondo, Shooting and Weightlifting.

She said the while Team PNG did extremely well at the Pacific Games, the Olympics is another ball game altogether competing against the rest of the world.

“So we have to take the best of our best and make sure the ones we take to Rio to represent our country do something there and make our country proud.