PNGOC waiting on world body

THE Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) is awaiting confirmation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international federations on qualification events for the Tokyo Olympics.
PNGOC secretary-general Auvita Rapilla said due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the qualification events had been affected, given the travel restrictions of different countries.
However, PNGOC is continuing to support Team PNG athletes in their training and preparations for the qualifiers and Olympics.
Twenty-nine athletes across 10 sports are being supported by PNGOC to prepare for their qualifiers and the Olympics.
Two of them have already qualified for the Olympics — sailing siblings Teariki and Rose-Lee Numa.
The other athletes in athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, boxing, weightlifting, women’s sevens rugby and shooting are still in their qualifying stages.
“The women’s sevens (Palais) have gone through the first round (of qualifiers) and they’ve advanced to the repechage in Monaco (June),” Rapilla said.
“If they make it (through), they will be the first PNG team to qualify for the Olympics, so we’re continuing to support them.
“With Covid-19, a lot of qualification (events) have been affected, so we’re waiting on advice from international federations and IOC whether these events will be rescheduled.”