Miner backs ’15 Games

 ONE of the country’s biggest and oldest miners, Ok Tedi Mining Ltd, has jumped on the sponsorship bandwagon to support PNG’s preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games.

OTML and the Pacific Games Organising Committee signed the sponsorship agreement last Thursday in Port Moresby.

The signatories to the sponsorship agreement were OTML managing director and chief executive officer, Nigel Parker and 2015 Pacific Games Ltd CEO Peter Stewart.

OTML’s sponsorship commitment makes the copper and gold miner based in Western, a platinum sponsor of the 2015 Pacific Games.

 “The Pacific Games is a big event for PNG and Ok Tedi is proud to be associated with the Pacific Games Organising Committee in hosting this international event in PNG, as well as assisting PNG Olympic Committee in preparing athletes who will be participating in the event,” Parker said.

 “The Pacific Games will market PNG as an investment destination, it will add immense value to this country’s tourism sector and it will expose PNG’s largely talented but less known athletes and sportsmen and women. 

“The 2015 Games will add more benefits to the nation.”

OTML has been supporting the PNGOC over the last decade including the 2003 South Pacific Games in Fiji, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the 2005 Mini South Pacific Games in Palau, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and last year’s London Olympics. OTML was also a bronze Sponsor of the PNG Kumuls in their 2008 World Cup campaign.

As a platinum sponsor Ok Tedi will be able to host Team PNG sports training camps at the company’s facilities in Tabubil and select youth from Western to be part of the volunteer programme during the Games.

Stewart said Ok Tedi’s inclusion as a platinum sponsor was a huge boost to the HOC’s efforts in preparing for the games and promoting and bringing the Games experience to the wider community throughout PNG

“Over the years Ok Tedi has provided the backbone to PNG’s economy and we are delighted that they have come on board especially at a time of our two-year count down to the July 4 opening ceremony in 2015. And there is little doubt that the race to the starting line has just begun. Come on and be part of it,” Stewart said.