Auction raises about K300,000 to support Team PNG

THE 2024 Trukai Fun Run Auction held in Port Moresby and Lae last week raised around K300,000 to support Team PNG compete at the Paris Olympics this year.
The auction in Lae sold 6,200 T-shirts and raised K155,000 while Port Moresby sold 4,900 shirts and raised K122,500 for a total of K277,500.
Team Papua New Guinea Chef de Mission to Paris Olympics Ryan Pini acknowledged Trukai and other major sponsors and supporters of PNGOC and Team PNG for their contributions.
“We are grateful for your commitment towards Team PNG, your generosity is truly inspiring and gives us the motivation to continue our efforts to provide the best possible Launchpad for our Team PNG athletes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pini said PNG would be competing in seven of 26 sports at the 2024 Paris Olympics in France, says.
The auction was Trukai’s support towards the PNG Olympic Committee and Team PNG in preparing for regional and international sporting events.
“We are 60 days away from the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. Team PNG will be leaving our shores to represent Papua New Guinea on the international sporting stage in July and we’ll be looking to qualify for those final spots,” Pini said.
“We’ll be taking part in seven of the 26 available sports on the programme. The athlete’s preparations towards the Olympic Games will require the support from funds that are raised here.
“Trukai has contributed towards seven of the (Olympic) games since its inception with the PNGOC back in 1999 and I’d like to extend my warmest gratitude towards the major sponsor of the fun run for their unwavering support.”
Since its inception in 1999, the Fun Run initiative supported Team PNG to six Commonwealth Games, five Commonwealth Youth Games, seven Pacific Games, six Pacific Mini Games, three Youth Olympic Games, and seven Olympic Games, including Paris 2024.
Trukai Industries chief executive officer Alan Preston said this year’s Fun event would be held on June 23. “We are looking forward to working closely with the PNGOC to make the Trukai Fun Run another memorable event,” he said.