State to subsidise Games airfares

AIRLINE costs will be subsidised for provinces taking part in the 7th PNG Games in West New Britain, says PNG Sports Foundation
chief executive officer Peter Tsiamalili Jr.
Tsiamalili Jr said the Government, through the Prime Minister and Sports Minister Peter O’Neill, had given
the assurance regarding air travel subsidy for teams.
“The airline companies have been encouraged to come forward in supporting and subsidising the travelling costs of the provinces.
“For all those provinces who are wondering whether we’re going to subsidise, the Government and the prime minister have assured me that there will be some form
of support like what we’ve done before.
“It may not be necessarily the same as what we expected in the 2012 PNG Games in East New Britain but definitely there will be support coming through from the national government to the provinces.
“All in all, it’s a collective effort by the provinces, the host province West New Britain and most of all the athletes, who have continued to train despite the delay in the games.”
Tsiamalili Jr said funding for teams to take part in the games would vary, depending
on where they would be travelling in from.
“All provinces from the Highlands and Mamose will most probably travel by road to Nadzab in Morobe and then by plane to Kimbe so that will minimise their costs and in the Southern region, a lot of them will have to fly to Kimbe,” Tsiamalili Jr said.
“We’ve started talking with Air Niugini at the higher level and there will definitely be some subsidy and Air Niugini as well as Airlines PNG will be looking to ensure that there are some reasonable costs for the provinces.
“The prime minister, as the sports minister has assured us that we will get that support to ensure we give some subsidy to
the provinces like we did in 2012,” he said.