Team PNG gets boost

PACIFIC MMI yesterday formalised their K50,000 sponsorship for Team PNG to the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
The monetary sponsorship comes on top of their in-kind sponsorship of insurance cover for the team as well.
Present to thank Pacific MMI on behalf of the Papua New Guinea Sports Federation and Olympic Committee, was Mona-Lisa Leka, deputy chairperson of the PNG Athletes Commission.
“This sponsorship is in addition to insurance cover for the team to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India and we greatly appreciate it,” Leka said.
“This kind of initiative from the corporate sector is greatly appreciated and shows their support and interest in business, and the wider community as a whole.”
General manager Laurens Van Der Gaag also affirmed the company’s support for the team to Delhi.
“As the largest 100% nationally operated insurance company in the country, this is just part of several social obligations we as a company are committed to,” he said.
From the basic grassroots level right through to the elite sportsperson, we understand that these things need money, and Pacific MMI is happy to be a part of this,” Van der Gaag said.
“More importantly, all the best to the team going to Delhi, take pride in representing your country.”
Nine sports have been given the green light to participate at the Commonwealth Games, with netball and rugby sevens, only confirmed after Fiji’s appeal at the Commonwealth Games’ arbitration hearings, was unsuccessful.
The rest of the sports are athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, squash, weightlifting, swimming and paralympic sports, which includes athletics and powerlifting.
A total of 123 athletes have been marked for Delhi, with a justification committee meeting to be held in next week before teams are finalised.
Also present was PNGSF&OC secretary general Sir John Dawanincura.
He said the bulk of the funds raised by the federation would go towards the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, and the SP Games in New Caledonia, apart from the Commonwealth Games.