Hosts to provide data

By ELIZABETH VUVU
THE host organising committee (HOC) of the 2012 PNG Grassroots Games must provide information on accommodation and rental rates to participating provinces for budget planning.
In a meeting in Kokopo between the national PNG Games council, the HOC and representatives of the PNG Sports Federation (PNGSFOC), National Sports Institute and PNG Sports Foundation last week, representatives from the 20 provinces suggested that data on accommodation venues and transportation be compiled and provided by next month to provinces through the national games council.
This will ensure they are factored into their budgets when passed on to their provincial governments, most of which would be major sponsors for their respective provincial teams.
Accreditation was also encouraged to ensure athletes and officials were identified with the listing provided by the provincial team officials.
NSI director Edris Kumbruwah said a charter for the PNG Games has been drawn up with copies distributed to provinces and the HOC for approval before it was compiled and accepted as a working document for the games gouncil and HOC.
The contract document will determine which sports are to be played during the games next year.
East New Britain’s four MPs have been urged to support with funding assistance towards the hosting of the 5th PNG Games in the province.
The games to run from Nov 19-30 is expected to attract more than 7, 000 visitors from the 20 provinces.
PNGSFOC deputy chairperson Nellie McClay said ENB faced the challenge of surpassing previous hosts NCD whose 2009 effort was considered the benchmark.
Acknowledging  K250,000 in funding support from the ENB provincial government, McClay said political members needed to pool resources to fund the games.
“The games are specifically for the grassroots people in the rural areas and must be promoted among youths, giving them the opportunity to excel and hence and avenue for other areas of life,” McClay said.
HOC deputy chairman James Wong urged the MPs to assist as it was becoming stressful for the committee alone to work on the limited funding from the provincial government in their preparation towards this major sporting event in the country.
From the 10 identified compulsory sports as per the charter, the meeting also confirmed several more that would be considered.
Kumbruwah said the codes proposed by the HOC would be in accordance with what was outlined in the charter, and only if  facilities were available in the province. He said assistance on technical advice would come from the PNG Sports Foundation and NSI, with plans to train local officers on the ground to assist in preparations for the biggest sporting event in the country.
The compulsory sports are athletics (track and field), basketball, soccer, weightlifting, rugby league 9s, netball, boxing, touch rugby, lawn bowls and volleyball.
Other sports that could be accomodated are Paralympic sports, rugby union 7s, darts, bodybuilding, taekwondo, cricket, surfing and swimming.