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Sports |
We lack suitable venues
PNG’s bid to host
rugby league World Cup games may be rejected
By HENRY MORABANG
Papua New Guinea may
miss out on an opportunity to co-host the 2008 rugby league
World Cup with Australia because it lacks logistics and proper
international standard sporting facilities, including playing
fields.
The World Cup organisers will meet next month to decide whether
PNG has international standard facilities to host some games
which feature the PNG Kumuls.
PNGRFL chief executive officer Jeff Wade admitted yesterday that
PNG did not have the logistics to host the event, let alone a
suitable sports venue but PNG can look forward to hosting the
World Cup, possibly in 2016.
Wade said the rugby league World Cup ‘08 organising committee
had promised to look at a proposal from PNG to host one of the
Kumul games here in PNG.
And to do so PNG must have an international standard stadium
that could accommodate up to spectators, and be equipped with
telecommunication facilities which include video/television
screens.
He said the stadium must have the facilities for the World Cup
television provider to set up and use its equipment. This means
screens for video referee decisions and a place to keep all the
technical equipment.
Wade said that PNG does not have such a venue and associated
facilities that are standard in all NRL stadiums in Australia.
However, there are three possible venues, Lloyd Robson Oval, Sir
John Guise Stadium and Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (Konedobu) that
could be upgraded to international standards.
He said the Lloyd Robson Oval has been the venue for
international rugby league, rugby union and soccer fixtures in
the past. However, it needs another 7,000-seat capacity to
attract World Cup interest. This would require additional stands
or earth mounds to be constructed at the ground.
Wade also said that Sir Hubert Murray at Konedobu has the
capacity to hold the crowd if earth mounds are constructed
higher than the existing outer ground. There is also the issue
of land owner group giving permission to use and renovate the
stadium, while in the case of Sir John Guise Stadium at Waigani,
it requires renovation.
Wade said PNG stakeholders in both the public and private sector
should make a commitment to develop an existing facility now
while the RLWC organising committee is still deciding looking
around for a PNG.
“PNG needs to be able to show we have a venue which we will be
upgrading to world standards. The commitment from politicians
and business organisations must be made now. If PNG wants a
Rugby League World Cup game played here we need to show our
commitment now! Let’s get a World Cup Rugby League Game played
in PNG!” he said.
The offer to host the World Cup match in PNG was made in May.
“I have been trying to get people interested but the elections
are dominating everyone's minds. It would not take long to
upgrade any of the venues mentioned once someone makes a
commitment,” he said.
 
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