Body to decide on athletes

THE final endorsements of athletes and officials to this year’s Saipan Pacific Mini Games will be made when the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee’s (PNGOC) justification committee meets on Monday.
The justification committee deliberates on and endorses sports and their top athletes to take part as Team PNG in the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Pacific Games.
The targeted sports that will represent PNG at the Pacific Mini Games, which are scheduled for June 17-25, are athletics, beach volleyball, golf, tennis, va’a and weightlifting.
“We urge national federations to provide all requirements for the Pacific Mini Games preparations and accreditation purposes,” PNGOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla said.
Whilst the endorsement of the final team is pending, the top management for Team PNG has been appointed.
Rapilla named Kila Dick as chef de mission, Anzillah Miro as general manager, Ivan Ravu as chief medical officer and Hendriella Vilosi as head physiotherapist of Team PNG to the Games. The general management team, like other sports officials on the team, are made up of volunteers.
Dick is also the male vice-president of the PNGOC executive board and chairs the justification committee.
Prior to his appointment as the male vice-president, he served as the president for the PNG Volleyball Association. A former athlete himself, Dick has been in the sporting fraternity for more than 40 years.
Miro had previously served in the same role for Team PNG to the 2017 Pacific Mini Games and 2019 Pacific Games, and also employed as a volunteer manager for the 2015 Pacific Games.
Ravu has worked with various sports such as the PNG Kumuls, SP Hunters, Gulf Isou and Team PNG to the Vanuatu 2017 Pacific Mini Games and Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.
Vilosi was previously employed by High Performance Sport PNG as a physiotherapist. She has been engaged with cricket, rugby league, netball, football, hockey and was part of Team PNG to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games and Samoa 2019 Pacific Games.