Finish on top: Raminai

By HUXLEY LOVAI
TEAM PNG has been challenged to finish on top of the medal tally in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
The task has been set by team chef de mission Emma Waiwai and Vice-Minister for Sports Wesley Raminai following the recent Pacific Mini Games.
The only two regional events where PNG topped the tally was when the country hosted the Pacific Games in 1991 and 2015.
Raminai, when assuring the PNG Olympic Committee and the athletes of the government’s continued support, challenged Team PNG to top the medals tally away from home at the 2019 Pacific Games.
“We have never topped the medal tally away from home. Let us challenge ourselves and raise the bar higher and try to win the Games away from home,” Raminai said.
“It won’t be easy to do that as the home crowd-advantage lifts any country that hosts the Games and the Samoans will go out of their way to win the 2019 Games.
“Of course, Tahiti didn’t attend the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu and Fiji didn’t send a full team where they are of world class. They will be a much stronger opposition in Apia and we have to get ready for them.
“But if New Caledonia can continue to win away from home, let us adopt strategies that can also put us in a strong position every time we send Team PNG abroad.”
Waiwai said: “In 2015 we showed the country that we deserved to be number one, in 2019 we need to reaffirm our position.
“We have 18 months to prepare for the Pacific Games in Samoa, in 2019. To all the athletes who competed at the Mini Games, use this experience to see where you need to improve and move to the next level.”
The 2019 Pacific Games, which will run from July 8-20 in Apia, Samoa.
The event was initially awarded to Tonga, but the Tongan government officially withdrew from hosting it in May 2017, amid concerns the country could face economic difficulties if it proceeded.