Polye: Focus more on sports

By PARKER TAMBUA
Sports Minister Don Polye says he wants to see sports become a culture of Papua New Guinea and not just an event as it is an important development tool.
He said on Thursday he would do his best to drive the growth of all sports across the country.
Polye said he believed in the Government under Prime Minister James Marape and that sports would continue to develop under his leadership.
“I thank the Prime Minister James Marape for having confidence in me and appointing me as the sports minister,” he said.
“I see sports as an integral human development component of the country’s progress, so I will provide support and make sure all sports become a reality in PNG and not just one or two codes.
“Sports instil good habits which then become part of the character and culture of youths. I believe that sports will flourish under this Government.
“We will develop a sporting culture, I don’t believe in one-off events or periodical sporting events. I believe in a sporting culture.”
Polye said although he had never been involved in sports in the past, he could get the job done.
“I played rugby league when I was young, but I’ve never played other sports,” he said. “But upon my appointment, I would like to support sports such as hockey, soccer, rugby union, netball, cricket, basketball, volleyball and others.
“I believe that I will learn. It doesn’t matter whether I know and understand the details of all sports.
“But what matters is that I have the ability to serve and I can see sports as a development tool for the country.”