PNG puts hand up to host Commonwealth meting

 By WENDY KATUSELE

PAPUA New Guinea has offered to host a Commonwealth Sports Ministers meetings – an event held biennially.

But that will be decided after the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

Minister for Sports and 2015 Pacific Games Justin Tkatchenko said that from Glasgow, Scotland, where he represented the National Government at the 2014 Commonwealth Sports Ministers meeting on Tuesday.

“We have put up our hands to host one of the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meetings but we will know after the Rio Olympics,” an excited Tkatchenko said.

With the hosting of the APEC meeting in 2018, Tkatchenko is confident PNG can also hold this important event after his presentation on the developments PNG had made  to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Tkatchenko said the meeting went very well and he was pleased with the discussion mainly on ‘Sports Development for Peace’ and with the government’s presentation on Bougainville grabbing attention from several Commonwealth countries.

He met with representatives from key players like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Tkatchenko presented a brief on next year’s Pacific Games, which impressed his audience.

Tkatchenko said the 35 Commonwealth countries represented prioritised sports to drive peace in many countries affected by conflicts or wars.

He said examples were given on Sri Lanka and Rwanda conflicts, which have used sports to bring back normalcy.

Tkatchenko presented a brief on how the government under its sports enhancement programme is reaching out to Bougainville with some positive results. 

Tkatchenko will meet with Queen Elizabeth II, and later Prince Edward and finally with Prince Charles later this week where the heir to the throne will announce the Royal member who will officiate at next year’s Pacific Games.