PNG Games deferred again

The National Sports

THE Papua New Guinea Games have again been postponed due to the unpreparedness of venues in the host province of Southern Highlands, according to the custodians of the showpiece event.
In a meeting between the PNG Games Council and relevant stakeholders last week, it was recommended that other provinces be invited to express their readiness to host the eighth Games.
A sports technical advisory committee made this and other recommendations in a report, resulting in the council’s decision to recall the hosting rights from Southern Highlands.
The advisory committee conducted a venue inspection in June before compiling the report.
The key question asked during the inspection was whether the venues would be ready for use by the end of the year.
The advisory committee concluded that the venues would not be ready by November for South Highlands to host the Games.
After much deliberation, the advisory committee made the following recommendations to the council for endorsement:

  • The council is to consider recalling the hosting rights to the PNG Games from the host organising committee.
    The provincial government had won the hosting rights in 2015, and the preparation of venues had fallen behind schedule for Games delivery this year;
  • The council is to consider inviting other provinces to express their readiness to host the Games as soon as practicable. It is to consider the National Capital District and Central as hosts of the Games in June or July next year, given the availability of world-class venues in Port Moresby; and,
  • The council is to consider limiting the number of sports to 10 compulsory ones as captured in the PNG Games charter. Other sports may be considered, subject to the recommendation of the new host. The compulsory sports are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, soccer, powerlifting, nines rugby league, touch, volleyball (indoor) and netball.

Meanwhile, the PNG Sports Foundation has made the undertaking to work with the host organising committee and Southern Highlands government to complete the construction of all the venues.
Foundation executive director Albert Veratau expressed satisfaction that progress had been made and much more would be achieved.
“This will be achieved with the collaboration of key government departments, including National Planning and Monitoring, Treasury and Finance, to have the facilities completed in Southern Highlands,” the foundation said in a statement said yesterday.
“This decision relieves the pressure of the host organising committee and gives it sufficient time to complete the venues and be better prepared to stage the next PNG Games.”