By HENRY MORABANG
THE PAPUA New Guinea Sports Federation (PNGSF) hopes to raise K450,000 through various fundraising to send Team PNG to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in August.
Leading the fundraising would be Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare who will participate in the Friday’s week Prime Minister Corporate Golf challenge to be held in Port Moresby.
Sir Michael who launched the Challenge yesterday at the Port Moresby golf course is appealing to all corporate companies, government statutory bodies and business houses to participate to help send the PNG team.
He said so far 53 companies have confirmed their participation ñ making it the biggest number of teams ever to take part in the 10-year old golf challenge.
Sir Michael thanked the companies who took part in the Golf Challenge and urged them again to join golf challenge next Friday.
The Prime Minister also thanked Boroko Motors for being the major sponsor of the one-day ambrose event who have also provided a major drive-away new Mitsubishi (revolution) as prize for hole-in-one event for golfing event in Port Moresby and Lae.
PNG Sports Federation general secretary Sir John Dawanincura was pleased with Sir Michael’s patronage for the last 10 years.
HE said PNGSF depended entirely on corporate sponsors to send achieve their aims and objectives by staging such major fundraising events. The major fundraising event is the Trukai Fun Run which will be launched today at Yacht Club.
Sir Michael also had a privilege of announcing the PNG athletes who have qualified on merit and they are Ryan Pini (swimming), Mae Koime (athletics), Theresa Tona (taekwando) while judo and soccer (men/women) are taking part in the qualifying tournament in Fiji. The women will have their tournament in Port Moresby next week.
Boroko Motors general manager Geoff Lang said that as a corporate citizen, his company was happy to support the fundraising.
“It is a worthy cause to send our young athletes to the Olympic Games. As business, we are very happy to help,” Lang said.
Lang also appealed to other corporate companies to assist by nominating their teams for the Prime Minister’s Corporate Golf Challenge next Friday.