Change to awards

 The top sportsman and sportswoman of the 2015 Pacific Games will be announced at the closing ceremony on Saturday at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

Pacific Games Council executive director Andrew Minogue said they had changed the awards from a 12-month period to a system that was based on results and performances at the Games.

Nomination forms were to have been handed to the chef de missions in yesterday morning’s briefing, Minogue said.

He welcomed the input of the Pacific Games Association (PGA) presidents and secretaries-general.

“There’s five for athletes and three that involves coaches, administrators and technical officials.”

He said a judging panel has been put together by the Pacific Games Council executive board of representatives, including the media, and the best male and female of the Games would be presented at the closing ceremony in addition to the new athletes’ rep.

Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) president Dr Robin Mitchell said the best male and best female athletes of the Games could be entered for the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Sports Awards in Washington DC, USA.