Eyes on PNG sprint king Stone

 WITH the eyes of an adoring nation on him as he nears the most exciting chapter of his storied career, PNG sprint king Nelson Stone believes he is ready to perform for his country in the Pacific Games. 

And he hopes to lead when it comes to future community lifestyle choices as well.

Stone spoke to a captive audience in his role as brand ambassador during a special Games – themed Ready, Set, Connect event staged by Digicel to encourage its employees to adopt healthy living values, including good nutrition, proper rest, a positive mind-set and regular participation in sporting activities.

“I am quietly confident that I can perform for my people at the time a good performance is needed most,” he said.

“I will do everything in my power to win the gold medal. If people can be inspired by my performance, I hope I can help inspire them to lead a healthier lifestyle.”

Stone is part of a healthy living initiative by Digicel to inspire its staff to adopt simple but positive lifestyle choices that set an example and ripple out to family, friends and the wider community.

The event follows in the footsteps of on-going community initiatives by Digicel through the Digicel Foundation in support of women, girls and other marginalised people, and the company’s sponsorship of the 10-day Digicel Women In Business Expo running concurrently with the Pacific Games.

The event doubled as a chance for chief operating officer Paul Stafford to offer his best wishes to Stone and a further 11 individual athletes and teams across five nations in the Pacific region that Digicel is sponsoring. 

Stafford said he was buoyed by the achievements of Tania Mairi Mahuru (Digicel’s head of mobile advertising), who won silver for Papua New Guinea in the air pistol event last Monday, and a gold in 25m pistol yesterday.

He is equally proud of the gold medal won on Tuesday by April Yore, a member of PNG’s women’s touch team and Digicel’s marketing administrator.