Tkatchenko leads delegation to 2015 World Cup

 A Government delegation led by Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko (pictured) flew out of Port Moresby on Thursday to watch the Papua New Guinea Kumuls at the World Cup in England.

The over 30-member delegation is  e on special Air Niugini packages that cover accommodation, airfares, meals and transiting between matches.

The high-powered delegation has two official engagements, which include an official visit to Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. All participating teams in the rugby league World Cup have been slotted in to have their respective official government delegations call on Prince Charlesl.

The other ceremony will involve the handing over of a native orchid, Dendrobium Camilla to Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The new orchid species will be handed over by Tkatchenko, an avid orchid collector and gardener who named the new species.

He will be accompanied by Vice-Minister for Sports Labi Amaiu, Public Enterprise Vice-Minister Wera Mori and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.

It is understood that staunch rugby league follower and Finance Minister James Marape, who is the elder brother of Kumul forward Larsen Marape, and Minister for State Enterprises Ben Micah will call on the Kumuls enroute from Iceland.

The PNG Rugby Football League representative is deputy chairman Sandis Tsaka. Tsaka will attend the International Rugby League Federation annual general meeting.

Tsaka said like all other members he would present an update report on development programmes for 2012 and 2013, plus make several recommendations that include :

• More international matches at regional and international level at home and abroad to allow for re-growth as the one-off Prime Minister’s XVIII matches are insufficient;
• requesting the IRLF board to recognise the importance of re-introducing the Pacific Cup;
• Introduction of inter-Pacific nine-a-side tournaments;
• Highlight the PNG Government’s commitment towards hosting a pool match during the next World Cup in 2017, that will be played in Australia and New Zealand.