Athletes commission holds forum ahead of Games

THE Papua New Guinea Athletes Commission on Saturday held its first forum in two years for targeted athletes to the Pacific Mini Games and Commonwealth Games.
About 80 athletes were expected to attend, but due to some sports having their competition as well as other athletes focusing on preparations, less turned up.
The forum covered Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination, selection policies and athlete ranking, and provided an opportunity for athletes to raise concerns to the commission. Commission deputy chairman Lua Rikis told The National that it had been two years since the last athlete forum was held, and they were happy to bring the athletes together.
PNG Sports Foundation chief medical doctor Dr Kapua Kapua covered the Covid-19 talks with the athletes regarding vaccination, which was a requirement to travel for the Games.
Team PNG performance coordinator Chris Amini spoke about the selection policy, athlete ranking and the new tiering system. Meanwhile, Rikis said the forum was also an opportunity for athletes to speak about issues they faced during their preparations or raise any concerns to the commission.
“If they have any issues or concerns, they can always raise them with us,” she said.
“It has been a challenge because our main role is to run this sort of programmes, so we can have a dialogue with the athletes.
“Through this forum, we share with them any updates, which we haven’t been able to provide in the last two years, so it’s good that we’re coming out.
“We expected 80 athletes, but we understand that they are preparing for the Games, having their competitions and so on.
But we are happy that representatives of other sports could attend and be a part of this.
“We are hoping to have another forum in ahead of the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
“We feel that it’s important for the athletes who are preparing”