Competitions told to seek NCC approval

By PATRICIA KEAMO
NATIONAL sporting federations and associations that have obtained Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation (PNGSF) approval will have to send a separate request to the National Pandemic Control Centre (NCC) to resume their activities, an official says. PNGSF pandemic management committee (PMC) chairman Dr Kapua Kapua told The National that their approvals were only for Covid-19 protocols in line with the Niupela Pasin guidelines and not for resumption.
“The sports federations have to apply to resume their competitions and programs direct to NCC,” he said.
“Then their sport’s Covid-19 protocols are reviewed to reflect the Niupela Pasin guidelines and if all is good, they (will be) given approval to resume (competitions) for 2021. “Previously (last year), PMC took care of all the vetting of each Sport’s Covid-19 protocols. “(But) towards the end of last year, the Niupela Pasin protocols were launched by NCC (which) created a new arm of the NCC — Niupela Pasin (a unit, amongst other things, that is responsible for approval for mass gatherings. “Prior to the second wave (of Covid-19), PMC was still looking after all sports. But when the surge hit, NCC took away the authority of PNGSF and asked PMC to be imbedded into the NCC. “So now, the sports federations have to do the whole process again but this time vetting is done by NCC’s Niupela Pasin and PMC is supporting and advising them.”
Meanwhile, Dr Kapua said for sporting bodies that had national competitions coming up, vaccination was not compulsory for anyone in any competition. “Vaccination is not compulsory for anyone in any competition, (but) in order to adhere to stringent measures, vaccination is seen as a must in order for the national competitions to go ahead,” said Dr Kapua.
“Yes, it does seem that is has been made compulsory. “But players (in the Digicel Cup franchises) were given the choice and if they refused then they were asked to take a break and return in the future. “The Digicel Cup, National Soccer League and cricket are national competitions. “This means their teams move between provinces thus the need for more stringent measures for these competitions. “But for local competitions (that are played in each town/city) do not require stringent measures like the national competitions.”