Dawanincura vying to retain post

INCUMBENT Sir John Dawanincura will be vying against Ralph Tarasomo and Karo Lelai for the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee presidency at the annual general assembly in Port Moresby tomorrow.
Papua New Guinea Softball Federation boss Tarasomo and Basketball Federation of PNG acting president Lelai will be looking to take over the reins for the next four years.
The meeting will also see the election of other executive committee members who will oversee the country’s participation at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Lelai is also in the race for the PNGOC senior vice-presidency, along with Athletics PNG boss Tony Green, Netball PNG’s Lawrence Lahari and current female vice-president Emma Waiwai.
Green earlier this month raised concerns regarding a lack of support from PNGOC, which he claimed had “not adequately represented the interest of its membership”.
“We are all here for the athletes – that’s true and well understood by all,” he said in a statement.
“But what about the national federations?
“Who is looking after their needs?
“More and more is demanded from sports in the realm of compliance and governance but there is not enough support to enable them to meet these demands.”
In its response, PNGOC said: “At the end of 2019, PNGOC provided national federations with the opportunity to raise any issues they may have through a series of one-on-one meetings.
“Support to national federation from PNGOC has come in the form of training courses for administrators and coaches, funding, communications resources and advice.
“A resource centre exists in the PNG Olympic Haus where national federation representatives and athletes have free internet access and use of computers.”
Meanwhile, PNG Volleyball Federation president Kila Dick, PNG Swimming Incorporated’s Ashley Seeto and Lahari will be running against Michael Henao for the male vice-presidency.
Former Olympian and Netball PNG executive Iammo Launa and Lanna Kami will be vying for the female vice-presidency.