SOPNG gears up for meets

By MELTON PAIS
SPECIAL Olympics Papua New Guinea is looking forward to making appearances in two international events next year and in 2018.
SOPNG president Takale Tuna said in order to facilitate their participation at international events, the sport had sent Young Athletes Programme team leaders Margaret Nukinja and Ernestine Vinau to Nadi, Fiji, on Sunday for a Special Olympics Asia-Pacific training programme.
The Special Olympics Asia-Pacific training programme started on Monday and ends today.
He said the programme that Nukinja and Vinau went for training caters for children from as young as two to 14-years-old.
“The knowledge they attain will help our SOPNG athletes because with the Special Pacific Games coming up next year in Fiji, SOPNG aims to encourage athlete growth and promote inclusiveness,” Tuna said.
“There are also plans in place for a team PNG to take part in the 2018 Unified Football World Cup. It is based on the  Fifa World Cup model but for people with special needs.
“This will be a platform where Special Olympics athletes can get exposure as they continue to participate in such events regularly.”
Tuna said the selections of athletes would be made during the PNG Games in March in Kimbe, West New Britain.
He invited interested sports enthusiasts and parents of children and adults with intellectual disabilities to contact SOPNG to be volunteers to help run programmes.
He thanked the Digicel PNG Limited, the office of the Public Curator and the Cheshire Disability Services for their continuous support.