K500,000 for medallists

NGCB committed despite blaming delay on bank details, closure of industry

THE National Gaming Control Board, through its community benefit fund (CBF), has committed K500,000 to support the Government’s cash incentive initiative for athletes who won medals at last year’s Pacific Games in Samoa.
The board has been working closely with the Sports Vice-Minister Wesley Raminai and the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) to collate the individual medallists’ bank details so that payment can be made into their accounts.
“But because of the lengthy delay in providing bank details of the athletes, NGCB was not able to timely process the fund directly into the athletes’ accounts,” the board said in a statement on Friday.
“In addition, the coronavirus outbreak and the closure of the gaming industry in compliance with the Government’s declaration for the state of emergency has put on hold the NGCB’s funding support.
“Nevertheless, the funding will be made payable to PNGOC when normalcy returns and the gaming industry reopens.
“PNGOC will be responsible to disburse the funds to the medal winners and also be responsible for acquitting these monies in line with CBF Trust requirements.”
The board said the funding was part of its “give back programme” to assist sports in the country.