| Sports |
Nine sports given pre-Games funds
By WENDY KATUSELE
NINE sports yesterday received funding from Mineral Resource
Development Company (MRDC) towards preparations for the upcoming
Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa, and the Beijing Olympic Games in
2008.
Among the nine were the Arafura games committee and Disabled
Sports - both received K150,000 each, the highest amount from the
third batch of funding from MRDC.
A total of K742,000 was handed out with touch football pocketing
the second highest amount of K116,000, netball K87,200, squash
K86,000, swimming K67,000, volleyball K52,000, surfing K22,000 and
hockey K11,000.
The third batch of payment is from the government’s K5 million
sports grant through MRDC.
PNG Sports Trust Foundation chairman Graeme Osborne said after the
presentation that some sports may have missed out because they had
not done proper documentation as part of the requirement for
funding. However, they could re-apply with proper documentations,
he added.
“They have to do the right thing, including having an
international meet, as part of their preparations towards the
Pacific Games,” Osborne said.
“Athletes have the opportunity to compete overseas before the
respective games as part of their preparations,” he said, adding
that it was up to the Papua New Guinea Sports Federation to find
the money to take the 500-plus athletes to the Apia Games.
He said 500 was a big number to take to Apia, and emphasis should
be placed on medal prospect sports only or focus on sports that
are Olympic Games potential.
The final batch payment will be made next month.
 
|
