PNGOC PRESIDENT CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

CAPTION: PNG Olympic Committee President Emma Waiwai

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

PAPUA New Guinea Olympic Committee President Emma Waiwai has called for greater and consistent investment in the preparation of the country’s athletes, saying Team PNG cannot be expected to deliver international results without proper and sustained support.

Speaking at the Team PNG welcome reception at Government House recently, Waiwai said government support often comes periodically and is largely directed towards participation costs when athletes have already been selected and the Games are close at hand.

She said participation funding is essential but participation is not preparation which she explained that preparation happens over years and requires qualified coaches, training camps and medical support, athlete welfare, modern equipment and facilities.

She said too often these costs are carried by the Olympic Committee, national federations, sponsors, families and the athletes themselves.

Despite these limitations, Waiwai said Papua New Guinea finished equal 36th among 74 Commonwealth nations and territories, with one bronze medal won by Mora Baru in the men’s 65-kilogram weightlifting event.

She said the achievement demonstrated what PNG athletes can accomplish and asked the country to imagine what more could be achieved with dedicated, consistent and properly planned investment.

Waiwai called for at least K5 million in dedicated annual funding for the preparation of athletes and national teams.
She said the funding should support coaching, training, competition, medical services, athlete welfare and the maintenance of performance facilities.

Waiwai also pointed to the 2015 Pacific Games, saying PNG’s success at those Games followed significant investment in athlete preparation and sporting infrastructure.

She said if Papua New Guinea wants to see more gold and silver medals around the necks of its athletes, the country needs a national commitment that matches their effort and ambition.

With that Waiwai congratulated Team PNG athletes for representing the country with distinction and urged them to turn their attention to the 2027 Pacific Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games