Nine provinces take part in closing ceremony

By ISAAC LIRI
THE closing ceremony of the 7th PNG Games saw only nine provinces taking part in a parade seen by many as spontaneous.
Provinces like the Autonomous Region of Bougainville were on their way home waiting for ship, members of Team Gulf already flew out along with some members of Team Central who had completed their games in the first week.
Team Southern Highlands arrived late to take part in the parade and received the honours to host the next PNG Games and the team Central contingent that received the PNG Games trophy also arrived late to participate in the proceedings as well as some members of Team Milne Bay.
The teams that took part in the closing ceremony parade include East New Britain, Eastern Highlands, Morobe, East Sepik, National Capital District, West Sepik, Chimbu, Northern and hosts West New Britain.
PNG Games council chairman Peter Tsiamalili Jr commended those who took part in the closing ceremony and those who missed out.
Tsiamalili Jr also described the 7th edition of the PNG Games as the real experience of what a PNG Games should look like. “This Games is special because it has allowed us to really collaborate, especially when we are going through a tough economic climate, and it’s been a great unifying factor to have everyone collaborating for the purpose of carrying out the PNG Games,” Tsiamalili Jr said.
“We had a slow start but in sports it’s not about how you start but it’s about how you finish.
“We had some issues but then we finally did it. We seem to perform much better when we’re under pressure.
“I must say this and I keep on saying this particularly for all government agencies that we fight for the same cake, we get our money from the same bucket, the PNG Games and all the provinces.
“We cannot blame one province for not attending the Games because we are all struggling and I must commend those 16 provinces that made their way to Kimbe to take part in the games.
“Those provinces that took partfound a way and for those that did not make it, they have to step up in their own way because it is only once in a lifetime where we get to see provinces all get together as a nation at one place, at one time.”