Let the Kokopo games proceed

THE PNG Games, dubbed the “grassroots Olympics”, scheduled for November this year in Kokopo, East New Britain province, appears to be in a bit of strife.
Contracts are only just being let for the construction of the Takubar Stadium with the games due to start on Nov 19,  a mere four months away .
And with the much-maligned Rabaul Shipping having shut down operations, transporting over 8,000 athletes and officials into the games venue poses quite a challenge. We hear charges for accommodation at some institutions are exorbitant and, therefore, prohibitive for poorer provincial teams.
But we do not think these problems are insurmountable.
With or without the stadium games organising committee chairman, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, has assured the nation that 90% of the work at the stadium is complete. Only the shelter and stands are yet to be built.
Even if the stands are not ready on the day, what is to stop the games going ahead? The athletes who attend at Kokopo are not going to complain of there being lack of synthetic tracks or lack of electronic stop watches.
Most of the games participants will be used to rough tracks and will not be bothered by where they sleep or the quality of the food they eat.
They will be used to all of these. These are the grassroots games after all.
The important thing is that the games must go ahead.
Funding for the games is committed and delivered.
The government has parted with K15 million.
Support has also been received  from the National Gaming Council K1.1 million; ENB provincial administration K1 million; SP Brewery K100,000, East New Britain Development Corporation – K75,000. This is by far the biggest amount of money raised for the PNG Games.
We are assured by Sir Rabbie that 90% of the Takubar grounds are already prepared and await growth of grass.
The Host Organising Committee (HOC) has gone to great lengths to liaise with and organise grounds and accommodation for games participants in no less than 17 locations in the province’s four districts.
This gives credence to the grassroots feel and makes the games far more inclusive.
The education authorities in the province have taken on board the games dates and are preparing to bring the closure of the school year forward so that school facilities are available for the games.
Although transportation is the responsibility of each provincial team, the HOC has already initiated consultation with TravelAir, Air Niugini, Airlines PNG and Lutheran Shipping for concessional rates for games teams. This is commendable.
Similar consultations are being sought on the ground throughout East New Britain to enter into arrangements for transportation of athletes to and from the 17 games locations.
We are certain that the HOC can consult with those educational institutions which have marked up accommodation and catering costs to arrive at affordable rates.
Two problems that stand in the way of effectiveness in this country appear to be, firstly, a robust tendency to talk down everything; and secondly, we seem to always wait until the last minute to set anything into action almost on an emergency footing.
Funding of K15 million for the games, for instance, was made available by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill mid last year but the K10 million for venue upgrading and preparation was only delivered in January. And then tenders are only out this month.
At this stage what is needed most is constructive criticism, not bad mouthing or complaining. An alternate venue is out of the question. A deferral for the games should also not be entertained as this games has been delayed by a full year already.
With more than 30 games running over a fortnight, this is the most prestigious sporting event in PNG which is all inclusive and covers every province in this country. It is by far the best venue from which to select the future champions of PNG.
In many respects, the “grassroots Olympics” has created more real sporting champions of PNG than has all the other programmes combined.