By HENRY MORABANG
PLEASE help and Give them a fair go. These are some of the words used during the speeches to launch the fundraising to support the PNG disable athletes to the Paralympics Games in China on Sept 6-17.
Sports Minister and the patron of PNG Paralympics Committee Dame Carol Kidu who is leading the fundraising drive said Paralympics team desperately needed some funds for lead- up preparation.
The International Paralympics Committee subsidies 80% of the costing for the PNG Paralympics team, however Dame Carol Kidu believes that the team still needs money for preparations.
“Our disable athletes are important as well as our able body athletes. I appeal to business and corporate community at large to step forward and support our elite disable athletes for the game,” she said.
The president of PNG Paralympics Committee Theodore Ben said they need about K300,000 for preparation. They disable athletes need the money to cover the training camp and forthcoming lead-up international competition.
Ben said two athletes ñ Francis Kompaon (left arm amputee ñ T47 class) and wheelchair powerlifter Kupini Lewa - have already qualified.
“We are currently working with seven athletes to see if we (PNG) can send a strong team to China,” he said.
The acting executive director PNG Sports Foundation John Kambuou appealed to thegovernment to release K300,000 from the remaining K1.5 million from K5 million MRDC funding to give to disable sports.
“I understand that there is K1.5million left in MRDC coffer,” he said.
Ben said the funding will be used for training camps at the National Sports Institute and attending international competition.
Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group executive director Ivan Lu pledged K5,000 while TST Group of companies donated 500 boxes of mugs (48 in the carton) to be sold at K4 at stores.
Earlier in the weekend, Bank of PNG donated K20,000 to the PNG Paralympics Committee for the Games in China.