Funding of policy vital

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee has challenged the Government to maintain funding for its new national sports policy over the next 30 years.
Committee president Sir John Dawanicura passed the challenge to Prime Minister James Marape during the launching of the policy on Thursday.
He said continued government funding was key to meeting the objectives of the policy.
“It’s great to have a policy,” Sir John said.
“But then what?
“Who’s going to fund it?
“So prime minister, I’m throwing the challenge to you on who is going to be funding this policy?
“It will benefit the national federations which are our key stakeholders and the athletes and the officials they look after.
“I’m excited to see that the fruits of the policy will be reaped so long as we do get the funding.
“It’s always good that we come up with strategies and policies, but we need funding to implement them.”
Sir John commended the combined efforts of the PNG Sports Foundation and other key stakeholders involved in the formulation of the policy.
“It has taken all stakeholders three years to come up with this policy through the ultimate gathering and sharing of information with firm collaboration,” he said.
“It has been a fantastic effort in steering the consultative process in the formulation of this policy.
“On behalf of the national federations that will be benefiting from the policy, we look forward to the funding that will be coming.
“We all worked as a team, we cooperated and encouraged each other.
“Sometimes we didn’t agree on most of the things that were being discussed that were contentious.
“But in the end, teamwork ensured the launching.”