Pacific Games

More than 298 pieces of medical equipment was procured through the department to support the Games.
National Health Secretary Mr Pasco Kase in handing over the equipment said, “We are very happy to support the Games with these medical equipment’s so that the Games medical teams can take care of the health and wellbeing of our sporting participants as they compete in our country”.

The complex includes a VIP room, gym, office, shower blocks and 11 netball courts. The complex can hold up to 3000 people.

There to open the complex was Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who said the new complex will leave a lasting legacy and will help netball in the country to excel.

He wished the Pepes good luck in the Pacific Games and urged them to do their best .

Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko said he was in talks with the Games Organising Committee (GOC) to have the netball finals for the Pacific Games played at Rita Flynn.

The golden girl of PNG weightlifting arrived back in the country this afternoon from New Caledonia after spending the last three months training at the Weightlifting Institute there.

Toua will be competing in the 53kg weight division and said she is “definitely going for gold” but expects a strong challenge from Australia and New Zealand female weightlifters.

“I will be doing my best and let the result come.”

Team manageress Fehoko Tuivai who accompanied his men and women team who arrived today in Port Moresby said “it is their first time in the Pacific Games and (they are) looking forward to enjoy the game.”

Tuivai said she does not have any expectations for her team but wants the players to gain the valuable experience on offer.

Tonga’s touch team will be represented by nine female and eight men who will be competing in the men, women and mixed divisions.    

Through this arrangement from July 2-22, services will include free shuttle buses from the Games Village to the Nature Park and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority craft market area.

Discount entry will also apply to other official Games visitors including media, technical officials and VIP guests. 

Nature Park’s general manager Michelle McGeorge said that part of hosting the best games ever included ensuring athletes and visitors have the best experience ever.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill ritually received the baton and made his way through the corridors of Parliament to meet Oil Search executive Gerea Aopi on the steps of the building, under the historic words from the Constitution annals.

There, he handed the baton to the tall former rules footballer and field athlete, Mr Aopi, who jogged down the winding road to the gates of the Parliament area.

He handed over the baton to NCD Governor Powes Parkop, who was dressed for the occasion in T-shirt,  shorts and running shoes.

It is a proud occasion, they are all keen on doing Papua New Guinea proud, and what better way to do it – as a family.

Rita joyfully explains: “My children have joined hands with me as BSP Wantok Volunteers, and this makes me so proud as a parent and on behalf of my family, I want to say thank you to BSP for giving employees and dependants memorable games experience,” Ms Lawrence said.

Prime Minister O’Neill told Team PNG during  last night’s farewell ceremony that apart from the K20,000 given to all gold medalists, his government will award K10,000 to all silver medalists while any PNG athlete that gets a bronze medal will walk away with K5000.

O’Neill says that this is to ensure that all the athletes perform to the best of their abilities. He congratulated each and every one of them for their selection to represent the country in the 2015 Pacific Games.

Takau pulled a  rabbit out of the hat and dropped the challenge to other Pacific nations on arrival this afternoon in Port Moresby.

He added that his contingent is a young team and they are positive they will do well.

Tonga’s national flag will be represented in the XV Pacific Games by 108 athletes who will be taking part in 19 sporting codes out of the 28 games to be played.

According to the national federation, they do not want their athletes to worry about raising money but concentrate on performance only.

Each athlete was levied $1650 and sports such as touch rugby did not make the cut while volleyball was rescued in the last minute.

Athletics Fiji development officer Joseph Rodan Junior explained was hey did it.

“In the era or amateurism that most minor sports fall under, the biggest challenge for any federation is financial support.