New tracks for Kokopo
The National, Thursday January 30th, 2014
By WENDY KATUSELE
A K2 million stadium with a synthetic track will be built in Kokopo this year.
Minister for Sports Justin Tkatchenko revealed to the National yesterday that the funding from the national government through the PNG Sports Foundation is set to propel the East New Britain tourism hub to another level in sports.
Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion and Governor Ereman ToBaining Jr are quite excited about the new project and are expected to be present at the ground-breaking ceremony in March.
Minister Tkatchenko, PNG Sports Foundation chairman Graham Osborne and PNGSF executive director Peter Tsiamalili Jr will lead a delegation to Kokopo to witness the ground-breaking event.
Work on the stadium, which will accommodate a synthetic track, will start as soon as the suppliers and Tenders Board clears all necessary requirements.
Tkatchenko said the stadium is expected to be completed by next year.
The stadium will be built at the Takubar Sports Ground.
He said with Kalabond set to host the SP Hunters’ Queensland Intrust Super Cup games, the stadium would be an ideal addition to the new sporting development in the province.
“We have been pushing for a stadium to be built in this tourism province and the ground-breaking ceremony in March marks the hard work put into securing the funding,” Tkatchenko said.
He said ENB has produced some top athletes and the synthetic track should ease some of PNG Athletics Union’s worries as to facilities — not that only the New Guinea Islands provinces should benefit from the facility but others as well , he said. “The track should ease some of Tony Green’s (PNGAU president) worries,” Tkatchenko added.