Governor to boost funding for sports

 SPORTS in Bougainville will benefit from increased funding, Governor Joe Lera says.

He said that during the welcome function for Team Bougainville at Bel Isi Park in Buka last week.

Lera said he would prioritise sports because of the team’s good performances at the recent PNG Games in Lae, where they came fourth in the medal tally count.

He said sporting facilities in the provinces needed to be upgraded and sustained for the development of sports in the province.

Lera said he would focus on improving training and upgrading sporting facilities.

He said local sports administrators needed training to improve their management skills while players needed better training to compete locally and abroad.

He revealed that a sports stadium would be built in Buin, South Bougainville, which would be named after former politician and elder statesman Sir Paul Lapun.

Lera said the Autonomous Bougainville Government would allocate funds to revive school carnivals to develop sporting competitions among students.

He said plans were being made for three Olympic size boxing rings to be built in the three electorates of Bougainville. Lera presented 80 medals to members of Team Bougainville for putting the island on the sporting map.