Team PNG to move into Village on June 28

 By ISAIAH IGISH

TEAM PNG will move into the Games Village on June 28, one week before the Pacific Games Opening Ceremony on July 4, chef de Mission Richard Kassman says.

He said the reason for moving into the Games Village early was because some sports had competitions which were scheduled to start before July 4.

The sports that will start competitions before the Games opening are soccer, swimming and triathlon. 

Kassman said soccer will have their competition on Thursday, July 2 and the players will be in the Games Village, at the University of Papua New Guinea, by Monday (June 29).

“From our perspective in Team PNG, we are not waiting for July 4, we are bringing our teams in a week in advance,” Kassman said.

The head of Team PNG said they were anticipating other countries to start coming into Port Moresby by July 1.

Kassman said the Games Organising Committee had allocated one block at the Games Village for Team PNG, which will accommodate 500 athletes. 

He said he planned to have all the national athletes in Port Moresby for the duration of the Games and had arranged for 300 beds at Correctional Services Bomana, outside Port Moresby, to accommodate part of the contingent.

“As with the Games, the bulk of the team goes on week one. 

“When they return after their competitions, the second lot goes in. 

“We are not going to do that here as we are the host.”

He said the athletes who have completed their competitions and the non-Port Moresby based players will be accommodated at Bomana until the closing ceremony.