Team PNG

The two notable games slated to be held in 2022 is the one-year delayed (from 2021) Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas scheduled from June 17th – 25, while the iconic celebration of sport to embrace the Commonwealth values of humanity, equality and destiny is scheduled from July 28 to August 8th. 

One of the major fundraising events organized by PNGOC is the annual Prime Ministers Corporate Golf Challenge. The first event will be held in Lae on Friday 08th April at the Lae Golf Club and in Port Moresby on April 22 Port Moresby Golf Club.

The four athletes include current Commonwealth Games silver medalists, Dika Toua and Morea Baru from Weightlifting and Geoffrey Loi and Tammy Agari from Table Tennis.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) confirmed that the four athletes had qualified through the regional qualification process. 

The PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) is extremely grateful to its corporate partner for over 20 years, Theodist Ltd who came good yesterday, dishing out a K50,000 worth of support to the Olympic Committee as they prepare to send Team PNG for the Mini-Pacific Games in Northern Marianas and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, mid this year.

National Sports Federations have been advised to provide all requirements for the Commonwealth Games preparations and for accreditation purposes whilst the justification Committee is in deliberation. 

Targeted sports include Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Weightlifting and Para Sports Athletics and Table Tennis. 

While the endorsement of the final team is pending, the top management for Team PNG has been appointed. The JC is the committee under the PNG Olympic Committee (PNGOC) that deliberates and endorses sports and their top athletes to take part as Team PNG in the Olympics, Commonwealth and Pacific Games.

Targeted sports that will represent Papua New Guinea at the 2022 Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Mariana Island, scheduled for June 17^th to 25^th 2022 are Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Tennis, Va’a and weightlifting.

The pair competed on separate dates. Mararos competed first in the men’s division on the 1^st of September. He made a new personal best of 21.11 meters, a new record in the region.

On the 3^rd of September, Leva competed in the women’s F46 Javelin. She also achieved a personal best. She went from the 18m record she recorded in the Queensland State Championships, to 23.30m at the Paralympic Games.

Coach Jackie Travetz was proud their performance. She said it is great knowing the two athletes are walking away with new ‘personal best’ records.

According to Chef De Mission, Susanne Sere, Para-athletes representing PNG at the Para-olympic Games in Tokyo have been training hard under Coach Jackie Travetz.

“I am happy with our two Para-Sport athletes who have qualified to participate at this year’s Para-Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Both Nelly leva and Morea Maros will represent PNG in Para-Sports in the track and field events in Javelin,” said Sere.

She said the team recently met in Goroka for a week training for both athletes and the coaches.

Sere said the team is excited and looking forward to flying the PNG Flag with pride. The team is set to depart for Tokyo via Singapore on 23rd of August.

Sere who is thrilled, described her role as challenging, and full of administrative duties, however, she is ecstatic and looking forward to accompanying the coach and para-athletes for the first time to Tokyo Para-Olympic Games.

“I am really excited about the role, it’s a learning process, as it is my first time, but am excited and looking forward to leading the Para-Athletes to Tokyo,” she said.

NGCB Acting Chief Executive Officer Imelda Agon, said the funding assistance is to meet additional costs of quarantine, COVID 19 precautions and the increased costs of travel due to the Pandemic for Team PNG.

Rellie Kaputin who competed over the weekend is the last athlete from team PNG to represent the country at the Olympic Games. 

Agon said NGCB is a keen supporter of the PNG Olympic Committee and will continue to maintain this partnership. 

Kaputin was the last to compete for Team PNG on day three of the Athletics competition in Tokyo as she shone through a field of world class athletes.