Games commissioner raises expectation

THE Government believes that investing in the sports sector is a positive step to building a strong and healthy society and future leaders of this country.
Hence, the appointment of PNG Sports Foundation chairman Ian Chow, who recently appointed his commissioners to strategic portfolios, giving prominence to higher levels of engagement with key stakeholders and to guide and support the foundation achieve its core priorities through the sports development and sports for development programmes.
Games commissioner Lady Ni Cragnolini, pictured, who is tasked with the responsibility for the PNG Games, Arafura Games, Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics Games portfolio has wasted no time in taking stock of current international events and commitments PNG is set to attend in 2019.
The 2019 Arafura Games will not see Team PNG fully participate although one or two individual national federations would attend because of their international federation requirements.
“We did not budget for this year’s Arafura Games but we will certainly participate in the future as we see this event a high performance platform for our national teams,” Cragnolini said.
The upcoming Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa is a big event as PNG strives to defend its title offshore.
Commissioner Cragnolini will be paying a courtesy call on the PNG Olympic Committee president Sir John Dawanincura and secretary-general Auvita Rapilla for a full briefing of the Games preparation and to work together to ensure Team PNG is well supported and prepared to attend the Apia Games. “We must ensure that our teams are preparing well and therefore I want know about all individual and team sports preparation to give the Government confidence that Team PNG is ready to win gold,” she said.
“This is Team PNG and therefore we all must take ownership and work together to achieve the Government’s aspirations.
“I will be working closely with commissioner and deputy chairman John Kapi Natto, who is responsible for national federations, and commissioner Julienne Leka-Maliaki, who is responsible for our high performance portfolios.”