Andrew is PNG’s young ambassador

mlipen Main Stories, Sports

THE PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee yesterday announced Shannon Andrew as its Young Ambassador to represent the country at the first ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August.
The Aug 14-26 event has attracted 36,000 athletes and 1,450 officials.
The 17-year-old Port Moresby International School student from Milne Bay was selected out of seven applicants for the ambassador’s position. 
Deputy secretary general of PNGSFOC Auvita Rapilla, in her first press conference at PNGSFOC office, said Andrew was chosen because he was a young and capable leader, this was evident in his role as captain of his under 21 PRK Wantok FC.
A midfielder for his club, Andrew has been selected for the NCD Select U21 squad for the PNGFA U21 Club championships in Lae last year.
He is an excellent communicator and PNGSFOC considered this an significant attribute that he would use through his work as a young ambassador long after he returned from Singapore.
“We wish Shannon the very best in this task before him and have all the confidence that he will be an outstanding ambassador for PNG at the Youth Olympics Games and continue in this capacity when he returns to PNG,” Mrs Rapilla said.
To kick start his role as a young ambassador, Mrs Rapilla said it gave her great pleasure to present him a certificate and a letter from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) congratulating him on his appointment. Andrew will travel to the Young Ambassador’s seminar which will be held parallel to the chef-de-mission’s seminar on March 25 in Singapore.
An excited Andrew said it was great honour to be the first young ambassador of PNG at the inaugural youth Olympic Games in Singapore “I would like to thank the International Olympic Committee for this initiative to enable youth to participate in the Olympic experience,” he said.
He thanked the PNG Sports Federation and Olympic Committee for selecting him as PNG Young Ambassador among the seven applicants and the PNG Football Association for nominating him.
Andrew said he was thrilled to be part of this experience and he look forward to playing his role in promoting the Youth Olympic Games and the Olympic values through the cultural and educational activities of the programme.