By PIUS MON in Lae
THE Western Highlands provincial government has put K1 million to support development of all sporting codes that is played in the province.
For the first time in history of the Western Highlands provincial administration, the move is to tackle the escalating crime problem and instill discipline among the young people in the province through sports.
Western Highlands Governor Olga said the money should be used to fund sporting bodies and expand the games into all the districts of the province.
The Governor revealed the new approach taken by his government to tackle crime, HIV/AIDS and other issues affecting the young people when he made the commitment in Lae on the weekend.
Olga was in Lae on Saturday to support Team Western Highlands that was participating in the 3th PNG Games.
The Governor also revealed his government’s plans to build a new multi-purpose sports stadium for the province and revive the Mt. Hagen Eagles and Waghi Tumbes rugby league teams to participate in the 2008 SP Cup competition.
Governor Olga stated that respective districts must come up with sporting activities and affiliated to the provincial body to secure funding and logistic support for them to qualify to participate in any national and international tournaments.
He said his government support was aimed at curbing lawlessness and contain the spread to HIV/AIDS in the province through sports.
A concerned Governor told Team Western Highlands officials during a lunch gathering in Lae last Sunday that it was only through sports that young people would be kept out of trouble.
He appealed to the current provincial sports council to review policies governing sports and come up with plans to have sports played in all the seven districts of the province.
Governor Olga added that K1 million would be budgeted annually with additional funding from overseas donors to develop sports in the province.
Team Western Highlands manager Simon Kama welcomed the announcement and thanked the Governor for taking a bold stand to address lawlessness and HIV/ AIDS from a different perspective.
Kama said the current provincial government’s stance to develop sports for the province would see tangible achievements especially within the law and order sector.
He said sports in the province were never developed due to poor management though it had the potential to grow.
Kama also appealed to the governor that if he was to develop sports in a much bigger way, a transparent and committed management team must be in place to manage the funds and resources to take sports to the next level in the province.