Criticisms aside, games successful

DESPITE criticisms on the preparations for the 4th PNG Games in Port Moresby last October, the host organising committee (HOC) event manageress Mary Karo hailed it as the most successful.
Karo said this when presenting a copy of the official report on the games to National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop at the City Hall on Tuesday.
She attributed the success to number of athletes travelling in from all over PNG to represent their provinces in the sport.
Parkop commended the HOC for staging an incredible event without facing any major hiccups.
He said sports unified men and women from different tribes and cultural settings who were scattered all over PNG.
He acknowledged the support of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare for the K1.2 million funding for the event.
Parkop also thanked various sponsors, the National Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Lae Biscuit Company (LBC), PNG Sports Foundation, PNG Sports Federation and other major sports and stakeholders who played a key role during the event.
Athletes from 19 provinces were given applause for competing in two-week sporting fest, which gave them the golden opportunity to expose their skills and talents.
Parkop said it was a financial blunder to realize and learn from the staging of the event that some contractors still need to be paid for services rendered.
He said the NCD would look at ways to sort out the outstanding payments with the contractors.
The governor said the  event sent out a positive message that Port Moresby had the potential to host big sporting events such as the Pacific Games and other international events.