Sporting venues closed

By ROBINSON LEKA
ALL sporting venues and services under the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation will be closed, effective immediately, until Oct 30, according to an official.
David Aua, the chief officer of the foundation’s venue management team, said the closure of venues would have an impact on competitions. But he said it was a necessary, given the current surge in Coronavirus Delta variant cases.
“It was not an easy decision,” Aua said.
“We had meetings with the PNG Olympic Committee and with the Niupela Pasin team last week.
“This will affect a lot of competitions not only in the city but throughout the country.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that sports are using these facilities for activities and competitions.
“But we also have a responsibility to the community to ensure that this virus is not transmitted through our venues.”
Meanwhile, the foundation’s pandemic management committee said the risk of transmitting the variant remained high with sporting venues open. “It’s a tough decision but I think it’s the right one, considering the current surge in the variant that’s affecting communities at the moment,” committee chairman Dr Kapua Kapua said.
“It hasn’t spread as much in most centre, but we have some provinces that are doing it tough at the moment.
“I have been in contact with the National Control Centre. We’re working with them to sort out some teams to go out and help our people on the ground.”
The foundation said the lockdown of venues would affect competitions that were nearing their finals.
It said the action would also result in the foundation laying off venue workers for a second time this year.