PNG Games report finalised, more funding needed

 By ELIZABETH VUVU

THE host organising committee of the 2012 PNG Games will soon be submitting a final audited account of monies used during the games to the PNG Games Council, chairman Sir Rabbie Namaliu (pictured left) announced recently.

He said they had already submitted an interim report on un-audited accounts to the PNG Games Council.

“This is to account for the all the money spent on sports facilities at the new Kokopo Sports Ground (KSG) that will be presented to the sports minister and to the East New Britain provincial government so they are aware of where and how the money was spent during the preparations leading up to the games,” he said.

He said the funding was given by corporate sponsors, the national government and provincial government.

So far facilities built at the KSG include a temporary grandstand, a cricket pitch, track and field for athletics, basketball, netball and tennis courts and fields for hockey, soccer, Aussie Rules and rugby union.

“KSG will undergo a second and third stage where a stadium will also be built and I am hoping the provincial government appoints and announces a new board to look after the management of the first and development of the second stage at Takubar,” Namaliu said.

Deputy prime minister and ENB regional member, Leo Dion (pictured right) has assured Namaliu he was waiting for the provincial government to undergo this exercise so the National Government could look at making funding available for the second and third stage of the facility.

“I hope part of the second stage will involve seating for each field and proper ablution, training and accommodation facilities to cater for athletes from the New Guinea Islands region,”Namaliu said.

“We can set up these facilities as a national academy for sports development and also to host national and international events and we will bring the standard of the facility up to a level where it can be recognised internationally.”

Namaliu said the PNG sports foundation was keen to see the development of KSG so as to ease pressure on Port Moresby and bring more regional activities to Kokopo.

At the same time Namaliu condemned two incidents of vandalism where two basketball rings were removed and urged the people to take ownership of these facilities that cost much money.

“We have to appreciate facilities set up so that we can enjoy them and which is why it is very important to have a management team with a proper secretariat and staff in place to look after the facility.”

He said the National Government has committed K1.6 million to ENB and hoped this would be used to improve roads and drainage at the facility. Namaliu added that HOC had concluded all its operations in March.