Subam seeks cabinet’s approval on 2015 Games bills

By JEFFREY ELAPA
SPORTS Minister Sali Subam will be forwarding two sets of submissions to the National Executive Council for approval for the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
Subam said the government had allocated K20 million in the 2011 supplementary budget.
The government had also allocated K180 million in the 2012 budget to prepare for the 2015 Games in Port Moresby.
The first indication of a responsible government, he said, was the passing of the 2015 Authority Bill which would enable his department through the National Sports Commission to start preparing for the Pacific Games.
It includes the 2012 PNG Games in Kokopo, East New Britain, as a lead-up to the 2015 Games. He said with the funding available, he would be submitting two bills for the cabinet to approve.
He said the first bill would be the establishment of the National Sports Foundation board, a regulatory board that would ensure the planning and determining of sporting codes to be played at the Games in 2015.
He said the board would also ensure that funding was tied down to the venue, facility and infrastructure development.
Subam added that priority would be given to the overhauling or refurbishing of accommodation, sports stadium and other existing facilities in Port Moresby.
He said the board would be responsible for planning and experts to design the scope of work and determine funding for the facilities.
Subam said the other bill to be submitted for cabinet’s approval would be the Venue Infrastructure and Equipment Committee Bill.
He said under the bill, skilled Papua New Guineans and experts would be part of the committee, while specialised contractors would be identified to construct new and maintain existing facilities.
He said a trust fund committee would be established to manage the funds that would be parked in trust fund.
He said they would be responsible for managing, controlling and spending the funds.
As minister responsible, he said he was impressed with the government for a significant funding of K200 million to prepare for the games, of which a portion of the funds would be used for the 2012 PNG Games.
Subam, who attended the Noumea Games in New Caledonia in August, said he was satisfied with the results so far.
He said he was prepared to plan for a successful hosting of the Games with the help of sporting bodies and administrators in PNG.