Committee to rescue ailing federation

 The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee will be helping the Papua New Guinea Powerlifting Federation appoint an interim executive committee to oversee the affairs of the sport and provide support for it to return to a healthy administrative position.

PNGOC management met with the sport’s provincial association representatives last Friday and briefed them of the PNGOC board’s decision to appoint an interim committee.

The Olympic Committee stepped in after the sport’s executives resigned en-masse, except for vice-president Paul Enuki.

With only one executive member remaining, the national federation ceased to be a legally constituted member of the PNGOC.

Enuki, speaking from Goroka yesterday, said he was yet to be informed by the PNGOC on his status but was thankful they had moved to fix the situation.

As the federation does not have an operating executive committee, PNGOC and Team PNG management will be overseeing the preparations of the powerlifting team in the leadup to the Pacific Games.

This includes funding support under the Go for Gold programme.

Athletes have been training at the High Performance Training Centre, where they have access to the high performance division’s coaches and trainers, receiving strength and conditioning training programmes.

PNGOC is working with the powerlifting fraternity to stage its selection trials for the Games.

The trials are scheduled to take place from Feb 27 to Mar 1 at the High Performance Training Centre. 

All powerlifters have been urged to stay focused on their training so that they can perform at their peak to give themselves the best opportunity to be chosen for the the Games.