By THADDEUS TIRIMAN
AUSTRALIAN High Commissioner Chris Moraitis has commended the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea for organising a four- day women’s basketball training workshop.
Speaking at the official speech day yesterday at Sir John Guise Indoor Complex in Port Moresby, Mr Morai-tis described the workshop as an excellent programme and the Australian High Commission was glad to have helped out.
“We are extremely happy to help basketball in PNG develop seeing that it is quiet a popular sport from the grassroots level. We are proud to be involved in a modest way as we have contributed, but we hope it is enough to see you through in achieving your goals and excel as a basketball playing nation in regional and world basketball. If you can get the right contacts, the right support and the right training you can go a long way.”
The Australian High Commission through its sports outreach program (ASOP) donated A$2,000 (K4,000) to the basketball federation and Women In Sports to run the programme which has gone through three days successfully.
Also present were Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu and chairperson of Women In Sports Veitu Diro.
The speech day was specially organised for the sponsors to come and speak in regards to the training programme and also to emphasise on sports and its overall contribution to development in Papua New Guinea.
Dame Carol, who spoke on behalf of the Government, said: “Sports today is not viewed as leisure activity any more. It has become a tool for peace, a better future, national unity and for national development. Therefore the government supports the development of sports. On behalf of the government of PNG I would like to thank the Government of Australia for your support.”
About 50 young girls and women were present for the training yesterday and many more are expected today as the programme winds down with a session for those who want to be coaches, technical officers and administrators.