PNG Sports Foundation says venues are open for services

THE Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation’s sporting venues are open for services as of today following a month’s closure in compliance with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Sporting venues were closed from Sept 30 to Saturday as well as sporting competitions following a directive from the National Control Centre on a ban for gatherings of more than 20 people.
Foundation venue management manager David Aua told The National yesterday that the venues would be open for use but under strict Covid-19 measures.
“Strict regulations as per the Niupela Pasin protocols will be applied on the gym, training fields and track venues at the Sir John Guise Stadium and the Bisini Sports Precinct,” he said.
Meanwhile, according to a statement from the foundation, national representative athletes were allowed to train and have trials following an approval from the centre’s Niupela Pasin team, but under strict protocols, including the 20-person limit.
“Several sports did send in submissions and we did follow up on them, but obviously due to the surge (in the Covid-19 cases) most requests were put on hold,” the foundation said.
“We had a meeting with Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom and Niupela Pasin’s Kimberley Kawapuro and her team.
“We discussed at length the implications of restarting competitions in the current climate and the factors that can have a substantial influence to reduce such risks where a consensus was reached.
“The deputy controller advised us that there will be new measures coming out in the beginning of November to reflect the current situation.
“There will be strict restrictions in high-risk provinces and restrictions on gathering will still be enforced.”
The foundation and centre had agreed that sporting competitions in high-risk provinces as well as all off-season and pre-season competitions of more than 20 participants were suspended until further notice.
Competitions held on fields that are open and accessible to the public are also not allowed to resume.
“The competitions approved to restart the 2021 proper season after October 30 must be an approved sport with Niupela Pasin-approved Covid-19 protocols,” the foundation said.
“They must be in the last round going into finals and hosted within controlled environments like foundation venues or non-foundation-gated venues.
“The allowed number of participants is the exact number required of players and officials at any one time on the field of play.
“Once a game is done, those participants must vacate not only the field of play but the venue before the start of the next game.
“No spectators will be allowed for regular competitions, however, spectators for major one-off events (grand finals, tournaments, championship, etc) can be applied for through the Niupela Pasin team where strict conditions apply.
“Trials, tournaments, national and provincial championships for selections can go ahead with strict adherence to the conditions for competitions.”
All other programmes, including coaching clinics, club presentations and sports carnivals, are to follow the usual maximum gathering numbers.
The foundation and NCC has advised all these conditions are subjected to change by the controller depending on the Covid-19 situation.