This year’s 6th PNG Games, to be held in Lae from 16 to 29 November, have undergone radical reforms, with an increased focus on national unity and establishing them as the pathway to regional and international competitions, according to Phil Franklin, Chairman of the Games Organising Committee.

The new logo for the 2014 PNG Games

The former Managing Director of Trukai Industries has been appointed by the national government to ensure not only are this year’s PNG Games in Morobe Province are successful, but to lay the groundwork for future PNG Games.

‘We’ve been tasked with running the Games in a friendly, Morobe-like manner, but at the same time in a business-like manner,’ he told Business Advantage PNG.

The reforms are partly to accord with the PNG Sports Foundation’s and PNG Games Council’s desire to continue improvements to the standard and quality of the PNG Games, by ensuring that each of the provinces runs its own provincial games prior to the PNG Games. bringing together all  districts  to compete  to assist in the selection process for those sports people who will represent their province at the 2014 Games.

‘In the past, some provinces have just turned up without conducting selection programs,’ notes Franklin.

Business sponsorship

The Committee is at the point of seeking business sponsors, says Franklin. Packages will be released shortly and, with live telecast of the opening ceremony on 16 November and also certain other events, he suggests will be value for those companies that invest.

‘These games are about PNG and involve getting Papua New Guineans into sport, bringing people together and breaking down any cultural barriers.’

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‘We are looking for a naming rights sponsor that is prepared to help us promote and develop national unity and provincial pride through participation in sports,’ he elaborates.

‘We have engaged a sports marketing consultant to ensure that the naming rights package and the other packages are able to deliver on sponsors’ brand objectives, commercial objectives, corporate and social responsibility objectives as well as media equivalency.’

‘Our games’

The PNG Games’ Phil Franklin

The games slogan is Bilong yumi.

‘It means, “Our Games”—that they are for us as a nation,’ explains Franklin. ‘These games are about PNG and involve getting Papua New Guineans into sport, bringing people together and breaking down any cultural barriers.’

More than 10,000 athletes and team officials from all 22 provinces are expected to take part, with almost 350 officials ensuring the Games run smoothly.

‘Lae will be abuzz with people. Many rural people will come to be spectators , boosting the local Morobe economy as they buy and take goods home. And we’re expecting hundreds of small businesses to be operating, providing food, drinks and transport.’

Improved infrastructure

The PNG Games are also designed to leave behind a legacy of  improved infrastructure.

The National Government, through the PNG Sports Foundation, has invested an additional K8 million into the refurbishment of a synthetic track, indoor complex, swimming pool, netball courts and amenities at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae, making its total contribution K20 million.

Massive influx expected

With up to a million people expected in Lae over the two weeks of the Games, Franklin and his team have begun finalising the Games structure.

‘The Committee is very active and we’ve had excellent support from the provincial government and Governor Kelly Naru and our local member, Loujaya Toni,’ he says.

‘Schools and universities will be closed during the two weeks of the Games and that’s where the athletes will be housed. We are issuing tickets to every event but only to control numbers, as all but six final events will be free.’