Pacific Games

Tabakaucoro has to run in nine events over five days and this includes the heats of the 100m, the 200m and the 4x100m.

He never has had to run these many races over a continuous five day period but the man who all will be watching in PNG is ready.

“This is the first time I will be competing over five days, maximum I have done is three days. With extra days, I really have to be running smart in all my races," he said.

She says the process of socio economics and cultural transformation has given them new identity tags.

“For young people these days it’s bank credit cards, trendy fashion, latest music, sports cars and many more,” Gore added.

She says all these changes will present new challenges for the governments at all levels.

“These harsh realities come into conflict with many of our youth expectations and desires of how young people should behave,” she explained.

These sports are - rugby sevens, sailing, taekwondo and weightlifting.

Their participation is setting a pathway for the Games to become continental.

It will be the first time the two countries have taken part in the Games since the event started in 1963.

The Pacific Games Council (PGC) approved a proposal to allow Australia and New Zealand to take part following an agreement between the Oceania National Olympic Committee and the Pacific Games Council.

With the clock winding down towards the July 4 opening ceremony for the Pacific Games, the advance touring party for the nation of New Caledonia arrived today (Monday).

Chef de mission Christiphe Dabin on arrival spoke in French and told reporters through a translator that New Caledonia is not afraid and its sports people are here to win medals and maintain their top ranking.

The 2011 Pacific Games host topped  the medal tally when the Games was played in their capital, Noumea.

Dabin said that 329 athletes will be competing in the 22 sports in the July Games.

The young Samoan woman arrived today (Monday), and said the jet lag associated with the long journey had already made her to miss home and family.

But the FIFA and Oceania certified assistant referee is not new to the international scene, having officiated in five regional Oceania sanctioned events already.  

Salamasina said that the PNG women will be hard to beat on their home soil and are favourites to claim their fourth consecutive gold medal.    

Samoa will be fielding a women’s team only in the Pacific Games.

According to CS contingent commander Assistant Commissioner Henry Wavik, while the supplementary orders were delivered last Friday their location detail and duties are yet to be handed to them by the overall operations command.

Wavik says that their deployment orders will cover all their engagement duties which would consist primarily of them being engaged at the 8 police stations and the airport post to help their police counterparts with general policing duties.

The Games opening will take place at the Sir John Guise stadium.

The prince is expected to arrive at about 5pm and is to be received by Parliament Speaker Theodore Zurenuoc who is currently the acting Governor General.

Governor General Sir Michael Ogio is attending the coronation celebration of King Tupou VI of Tonga this week.

This is the second time Prince Andrew is officiating at the Pacific Games. He first opened the South Pacific Games which were also held in Papua New Guinea, in 1991.

The officials advised that the program will not be disclosed as yet.

Most of the sites were inspected last week, while command mobile units have been operating in and around the city.

Last week, the Sir John Guise stadium, Bisini sports fields, and the Taurama Aquatic Centre were all checked out with the site inspectors as well as security command members.

To date each of the security forces has indicated that they are in operations mode with the overall games commander David Manning adding that this week all his units will be on “all systems go’’.

PNG Weighting Federation president Sir John Dawanincura says the team has been training hard and he is looking forward to good results.

PNG Weight lifting has a 19 member team which consists of nine females and ten males.

18 members of the team were sent to train in Noumea last month.

“We have done so well in other international games and for the Pacific Games  it is our vision to win at least between 17 – 20 gold medals,” says Sir John.

Sir John says in the female section, weight lifter Lorraine Harry has done well in improving by 15 kilograms.

Loop PNG understands that the forces were going over mock drills as well as specific tasking activities .

So far all operational and supplementary orders have been given out while site commanders and unit leaders have taken tours of their areas.

Meantime all provincial representatives of the police, army and C.S have settled into their tasks as well.

This week will see an increase in security forces presence in and around the city, while more road and street checks will be carried out.