PNG Games renamed and further postponed to 2025
The prolonged 8th PNG Games has been further delayed to June next year according to PNG Sports Foundation executive director Albert Veratau.
The multisport festival initially proposed for September 2024 in Southern Highlands was also renamed to PNG Unity Games and will be held biannually following a National Executive Council (NEC) decision early this year.
Mr Veratau said NEC has also approved a K270m funding to host the protracted event which has been deferred for the 5th time this year.
“NEC no.16 2024 in a special meeting no.5/2024 which was held in February 13 2024 made a lot of decisions and endorsement,” Veratau said in a media conference this week.
“The first decision was that NEC approved K270m to host the PNG Games in Mendi, Nipa, Ialibu and Kagua. That K270m covers both completion of the infrastructures, cost for the operations of the host organizing committee and hosting of the games by the PNG Sports desk.
“A huge cost also on the security which includes both Police and Defence Force as well as some private securities.
“They (NEC) also directed that the funds be managed and dispersed through PNGSF so that easy acquittals and reports can be provided.”
Mr. Veratau also revealed that NEC has endorsed Ambe Keleli as the new chairman for the PNG Games host organizing committee, taking over from outgoing chair Sape Molumi.
Keleli will be responsible for the operations of the host delegation whilst Molumi will continue on the construction of the facilities.
“What NEC did was basically split the roles so that Mr. Molumi continues the completion of the facilities particularly the Oiyarip stadium and a new chairman takes over the operation of the host organizing committee,” the PNGSF boss said.
NEC has similarly approved for Southern highlands procurement commission board to terminate all the minor contracts and go through a process of rewarding those contracts.
Mr Veratau said the new mini contracts will be awarded in compliance with the national procurement act by the Southern Highlands procurement system.
“Contracts are now elevated to the provincial level but also our (PNGSF) involvement will be in evaluating the different submissions for Southern Highlands provincial procurement commission to award,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Sports CEO said the part of K270m funding will come from the 2024 government budget whilst the other component will be captured in the next budget allocation in 2025.