Set up secretariat to oversee Games: Boino

PAPUA New Guinea Games Council deputy chairman John Boino wants to see the establishment of a secretariat to oversee the operations of the country’s premier grassroots sporting event.
Following his visit to host Mendi, Southern Highlands, he claimed that there had been no technical support and advice from PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) towards preparations. Boino called for more consultation and dialogue between all stakeholders, including PNGSF.
He said if a secretariat was in place, it would focus on preparations and delivering the Games.
“There are no PNGSF staff on the ground to provide technical expert since the groundbreaking ceremony last June,” Boino said.
He said he was worried that the host organising committee was at risk of breaching a Games charter or protocol, which may jeopardise their chances of hosting the event in the future.
Boino claimed that since Southern Highlands had won the bid in 2016 to host the Games, which are due to take place next year, Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation had not provided any technical support.
“Apart from one meeting, the PNG Games Council had not had any other meeting to update our members and the sporting franternity on the preparations of the Games,” he said.
“We need a separate secretariat to manage the affairs of the Games.”