Swimmers get boost

PAPUA New Guinea Swimming Inc’s aspirations of better preparing its development and target squads for the 2015 Pacific Games was further boosted with a K80,000 sponsorship to run programmes and develop swimming in PNG.
Bank South Pacific (BSP) Limited chief executive officer Ian Clyne yesterday presented a mock cheque for K80,000 to PNGSI president Elizabeth Wells and members of the Boroko Swimming Club at the Sir Donald Cleland pool.
Clyne said BSP was proud to sponsor swimming in PNG because of the success the code had made in Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and the then South Pacific Games.
He also said that swimming was an elite sports programme fitting to support youths and children taking it up.
“BSP is owned by people of PNG and it is much better to give back something to the people of Papua New Guinea through supporting sports programmes and other community-oriented programmes,” Clyne said.
Wells thanked the bank for their continuous support over the last eight years.
She said the sponsorship was the single largest so far.
She added that the PNGSI was on the world map as an organisation producing world-class swimmers such as Papua New Guinea’s gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games and the finalist at the Olympic Games Ryan Pini.
“PNGSI realises the important part sponsors play in the development of sports in PNG.
“We have an exciting year ahead and the continued support will help progress in the sports of swimming,” Wells said.
BSP also donated newlook vibrant swimming caps for the gold and silver squad athletes.
The bank is the major sponsor of the PNGSI and its Aquatic Excellence Silver and Gold Target Squad athletes and development.
The programme was established in 2008 to provide an achievement ladder for PNG athletes from the junior level (nine-11 years) to the intermediate level (12-14 years) and then into the elite target squads (open category).