Queen’s awardee humbled

SPORTS administrator, Ni Cragnolini, was among 76 Papua New Guineans  awarded the Order of British Empire (OBE) medal on the Queen’s Birthday yesterday.
A Chinese national, Cragnolini was given the medal for her services to commerce, sports administration and community.
Another sports administrator who received the similar award was long time cricket personality Wayne Satchell.
His award was for services to the community and cricket in the country.
Married to Italian businessman, Luciano, Ni Cragnolini is the managing director of L&A Group of Companies in Port Moresby.
Cragnolini, who was recently reappointed to the PNG Sports Commission board, came to prominence with her work in organising the 2009 PNG Games in NCD.
As commissioner responsible for the games, she helped source more than K1.2 million to stage the games which was widely considered the biggest and most successful event yet.
She has also played a part in ensuring the PNG Sports Foundation management is on its toes in delivering the services to  their grassroots sport programmes.
When contacted bout her award, Cragnolini was humbled by the recognition.
“I heard from people that I was nominated for an award and am humbled to receive the Queen’s medal,” she said.
Cragnolini said there were many more people going unnoticed who should be been given the award for services to sports.
“I am lucky to get prominence in the media that was why I was nominated but the award should really go to people who worked hard at the grassroots level for developing the sports in the country,” she said.
Cragnolini said she was very humbled for the recognition and thanked those who had nominated her.