PNG Games tops list of priorities

By ROBINSON LEKA
THIS year will be another big challenge for sports in the country, says the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation.
Foundation executive director Albert
Veratau said the 2022 calendar for major sporting and national events would be hectic amid the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
He said the general election along with the Commonwealth Games and the end-of-year eighth PNG Games were some of the events scheduled for this year.
“It’s a difficult thing when general election takes place as it affects everything and it even affects sportsmen and women,” Veratau said.
“The Commonwealth Games are pretty much set and locked in and it’s up to us to find facilities for athletes to train, considering the number of our facilities that are being allocated for Covid-19 operations.
“But that’s not going to stop us from preparing our athletes, we also have the Pacific Mini Games this year too and national federations will have their events to host.”
Among the activities for the foundation this year, Veratau said the PNG Games scheduled for between November and December in Mendi, Southern Highlands, would be a priority.
“We’re all in. We will make these Games happens for our people because these are the Games from our Government to the people and we’re the agency responsible to mobilise our partners and ensure the Games happen,” he said.