London, here we come
The National, Wednesday July 18th, 2012
WITH the London Olympics opening ceremony Friday week, Team Papua New Guinea’s 20-member contingent is spread out over the globe but will converge on the Games village in the next six days.
Only three athletes – sprinters Toea Wisil and Nelson Stone and judo representative Raymond Ovinou – are in the United Kingdom, with the track duo based out of Stockport in northwest England near Manchester while Ovinou has been preparing in Kendal, also near Manchester.
Athletics PNG President Tony Green and coach Naomi Polum are in Stockport with both athletes.
Taekwondo’s Theresa Tona is in Europe with coach Andy Rutten and is scheduled to fight in tournaments in Spain and Germany over the coming week.
She is likely to miss the opening ceremony and arrive in London well into the Games for her discipline which begins on Aug 8.
Swimmers Ryan Pini and Judith Meauri are in Brisbane preparing under coach Frederick Vanderzant and will travel to London over the weekend.
Weightlifters Dika Toua and Stephen Kari, who are training under Phil Coffa at the Oceania Weightlifting Federation, will fly from Noumea, New Caledonia, to London early next week.
Meanwhile, officials from Team PNG begin flying out to London tomorrow with John Jambert (judo), Frank Robby (weightlifting), Dr Bernie Amof (team doctor) and Michael Wilson (physiotherapist) the first group.
Team photographer Andrew Molen travels on Friday while assistant to the chief of mission Andrew Lepani leaves on Monday.
Team PNG chief of mission Syd Yates is already in England attending preliminary meetings with Games organisers.
Team PNG: Syd Yates (chef de mission), Andrew Lepani (assistant to chef de mission), Andrew Molen (photographer), Dr Bernie Amof (doctor), Michael Wilson (physio); Athletics – Toea Wisil (100m), Nelson Stone (400m), Tony Green (manager), Naomi Polum (coach); Taekwondo – Theresa Tona (49kg), Andy Rutten (coach), Judo – Raymond Ovinou (66kg), John Jambert (coach), Swimming – Ryan Pini (100m butterfly), Judith Meauri (50m freestyle), Frederick Vanderzant (coach), Seranah Pini (manager); Weightlifting – Dika Toua (53kg), Stephen Kari (85kg) and Frank Robby (coach).