Athletes get K20,000 support

THE PNG Athletics Union yesterday received a K20,000 donation from the insurance company, Pacific MMI, to continue its efforts in supporting the team’s ongoing training and development in Queensland, Australia, before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, next month.
PMMI financial controller John Thomas said it was the first time for the insurance company to assist the athletes.
He said the company was proud to be associated with the PNGAU and other sporting codes.
“I trust the assistance will go a long way in ensuring that the team is well equipped to do PNG and PMMI proud at this year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India,” Thomas said.
PNGAU vice-president Gordon Kapak said they were in desperate need of funding and were finding difficult to maintain the athletes’ performance at a high and reasonable level.
However, he said the athletes training in Australia were doing well and were continuously improving.
“The core of the team will be made up of those who took part in the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne because most of them have shown immense improvement,” Kapak said.
Sixteen athletes are undergoing training in Queensland will represent PNG at the games.
He said the funds would go to covering the costs of track fees, coaching and other amenities that would assist in their development towards the games in New Delhi.