More than K400,000 raised

THE PNG Games corporate dinner held last Friday was a resounding success with the Host Organising Committee raising K415,000 for the games in November.
HOC deputy chairman Honk Kiap told The National yesterday that big companies such as Brian Bell, City Pharmacy Ltd and other interested houses were out in full force to help raise funds for the games coming up with worthy pledges.
The funds raised from the corporate dinner at the State function room through pledges from business arms will put the HOC on a better footing financially to host the games in the nation’s capital.
“We are now in full swing and are looking at working on the facilities, arrangement of transport for the athletes during the games,” Kiap said.
They have approached Air Niugini for discounted fares for athletes flying in from other provinces to make it possible for grassroots athletes to participate in the games.
He also revealed that NCDC would be releasing K300,000 to the HOC this week, making its contribution to a total of K500,000 after releasing K200,000 earlier this year to kick off the ground works for the games.
According to Kiap, the initial K200,000 funding from NCDC was used on administration costs and other areas that had resulted in maintenance and refurbishment of some sporting facilities in Port Moresby.
The deputy chairman of HOC said the deadline for all the provinces to submit their player accreditation forms had been further extended to early next month.
“All the provinces were given last Friday as the due date but up till now no province has submitted their accreditation forms yet for its athletes,” Kiap said.
He said if the provinces failed to submit their player accreditation before the due date the HOC would send out officials to the four regions to collect accreditation forms to make it easier for the provinces.