SHP urge provinces to prepare for 2020 Games

THE hosts for the 2020 PNG Games, Southern Highlands have urged all the 22 provinces to start preparing to attend their event in Mendi.
The chairman of the Southern Highlands local organising committee Sape Molumi issued the challenged while accepting the PNG Games flag as new hosts during the closing ceremony of the 2017 edition at Muthuvel Stadium on Saturday.
“We (Southern Highlands) raised our hands to host the Games not because of facilities or good stadium or have the money but to show that this event should be spread around the country,” Moulumi said.
“We saw the Games and the effect it has on the grassroots. We need to develop facilities like this in all provinces.”
Molumi said the provinces were slowly building their capacity in sports and while the National Capital District and Morobe had the advantage of resources and facilities, other provinces were rising to higher levels and maintaining their positions.
He said Eastern Highlands, Central and East New Britain were at that second tier of provinces while he expected West New Britain to join them, benefiting from their Games experience as hosts as well as the infrastructural development it had brought.
“We want to provide the opportunities for the unknown talents from Las Wiru in Pangia and a barefoot runner from Mt Bosavi when we have good facilities. I want to thank the 13 council members for supporting our bid to host the next Games,” Molumi said.
Molumi said Southern Highlands would be proud hosts of the next Games as it would give them the opportunity to show their best side to the rest of the country.
“We also have culture and I invite all 22 provinces to prepare and come visit Southern Highlands during the 2020 PNG Games,” he said.