Powi: Southern Highlands readies for Games in 2018

 IT may be three years away but Southern Highlands has already started preparations to host the 2018 PNG Games, Governor William Powi says.

He said Southern Highlands might not be as advanced as other provinces but this would not dampen their determination to host the 2018 event.

The sporting event is held every two years.

Morobe hosted it last year and West New Britain will host the 2016 one.

“The Southern Highlands provincial government has backed its bidding team for the 2018 PNG Games in Mendi,” Powi said.

“We don’t have the facilities to start with. But what’s wrong with taking up the challenge? It should be a chance to showcase our potential and our provincial strength, our culture and our environment.”

The provincial government has requested Oil Search and other partners operating in Southern Highlands to assist the provincial government in building some of the facilities.

“We have set up an organising committee to do the planning work, costing. We do not have the land available to host everything in one particular area in Mendi. So we have decided to hold the games in Ialibu-Pangia, Mendi and Nipa-Kutubu.”