Games council recommend deferral
The long overdue 8th PNG Games is likely to be deferred following a circular released this week, pending approval from the National Executive Council (NEC).
It’s been almost a decade since the last PNG Games was hosted in Kimbe in 2017.
This national sporting event has been deferred many times since, due to various reasons in funding constraints, elections and Covid pandemic.
As of date, the PNG Games Council is yet to deliver this national sporting event with the latest core reasons recommending deferral linked to El Niño, funding issues and NCD’s unwillingness to host.
The PNG Games Council released a circular this week ( October 13th) recommending the deferral of the 8th PNG Games to a later date, pending NEC approval.
The circular, signed by the PNG Games Council Chairman Micah James advises all council members to refrain from further Provincial Team preparations, citing El Nino emergency and funding issues as the core reasons for the deferral.
The Games Council explained that it is aware that some provinces are prepared, as reflected on the accreditation process of Entry by Sports and Entry by Numbers, however, the obstacle is funding.
The Council also mentioned that some provincial governments have not released funds to support their provincial teams, while a few provinces have released funding, but not in full.
The El Niño situation that is currently affecting many communities around the country has positioned the PNG Games Council to recommend for deferral from the National Executive Council.
The circular also stated that NCD has made no intention to host the games after a decision was made to move the games from Southern Highlands to the nation's capital, as agreed by a majority of the PNG Games Council members in a meeting held earlier this year.
With the PNG Games Council recommending another deferral, many in the sporting fraternity are left disappointed once more
Leaders in various sports who requested to be anonymous said they have spent time and resources in preparations.
The continuous delays have also raised doubt amongst those in the sports fraternity on the purpose and future of the games when it was first initiated in 2003, Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
With these latest recommendations surfacing, uncertainty lingers on the when and where of the 8th PNG Games.
East Sepik Province have already signed an agreement with the PNG Sports Foundation to host the 9th edition of the PNG Games.
But the lingering dilemma remains with the hosting of the 8th PNG Games.