O’Neill to close Games

By HENRY MORABANG
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill will lead a Southern Highlands delegation to officiate at the closing of the 2017 PNG Games on Saturday.
O’Neill, who is the Sports Minister and member of the provincial executive council, will be in Kimbe for the closing and to receive the PNG Games flag from West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel as the host of the 2019 PNG Games in Southern Highlands.
Before the closing ceremony, O’Neill will also officiate at the opening of the Buluma Bridge, outside Kimbe town, along the Kimbe-Hoskins Highway.
PNG Games sports director John Susuve confirmed that O’Neill and his delegation would attend the closing ceremony.
Susuve said even though the PNG Games Council was deliberating on sanctions for Team Southern Highlands after a violent incident during the rugby league nines competition last week, the decision would not affect the province’s hosting of the next PNG Games in 2019.
Susuve said Team SHP had a strong presence at the Kimbe Games. The highlight of their presence was the 78-54 gold medal win in women’s basketball
over defending champions Morobe.
Susuve challenged Southern Highlands to learn from the Kimbe experience in preparing for the Mendi Games.
Susuve said O’Neill’s presence at the PNG Games would also give it credibility as a national event and to show the Government’s support of it.