PNGOC confirms contingent

PAPUA New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) president Sir John Dawanincura has confirmed that Team PNG is made up of eight athletes and 11 officials, including chef de mission Tamzin Wardley (former PNGOC treasurer), two members of general team Management, a chief medical officer and physiotherapist.
He also said three Papua New Guinean sports leaders would perform administrative and technical roles in the Tokyo Olympic Games in their respective capacities outside of Team PNG.
PNGOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla is attending the Games and International Olympic Committee (IOC) sessions in her capacity as an IOC member.
Association of National Olympic Committees and Oceania National Olympic Committees Athletes Commission chairman and IOC Athletes Commission member Karo Lelai is attending the Games and IOC Athletes Commission meetings.
Lelai is also member of the International Basketball Federation executive committee.
Former athlete and current PNG Athletes Commission chairman and PNGOC board member Ryan Pini will attend the Tokyo Olympics as an athlete representative on the technical swimming committee for the International Swimming Federation (Fina).
The Fina technical committee decides on the rules of swimming and ensures that the rules are adhered to.
While there, Pini will contest the International Olympic Committees (IOC) Athlete Commission elections as PNGOC’s nominee. The IOC Athletes Commission is composed of a maximum of 23 members, 12 of whom are directly elected by athletes during the Games.
The travel costs for Rapilla and Lelai are met by the IOC and Pini is funded by Fina.
The Tokyo Olympics will be held from July 23 to Aug 8.