Prime Minister Hon. James Marape on Tuesday (06.05.25) led the middle-aged and working class people to launch and play in the Prime Minister’s 2025 Golden Jubilee Oldies basketball competition in Port Moresby.

The competition, organized through the Basketball Federation of PNG, is part of the events leading up to the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations in September and is aimed at promoting fitness and healthy-living among people working in formal sector.

The Prime Minister, who has a men’s and women’s team in the competition, led the men’s team out at the launch of the event to play against former national representative basketballers, a team called Legends. His team won eventually.

PM Marape told news reporters during warm up, “It’s all about keeping fit. It says on our T’shirts ‘Next 40’. That means we want to stay alive in the next 40 years. We play, we move and get active so our bodies can stay longer. Your health is your wealth. For those who love basketball, it is out now. It is not a strenuous competition but a social one.

“I am really blessed today to be playing against former PNG champions – the 1991 PNG team to the SP Games who won Gold; the Mois, Muris and Elavos.”

NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop, who spoke at the launch of the event, thanked the Prime Minister for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of health and fitness, especially among people whose jobs take up most of their time in the office.

“I want to thank the Prime Minister for this initiative to get this competition organized. There will be others as well. I want us to embrace this initiative to get the 40-plus active,” he said.

The competition will be expanded to soccer, touch rugby and tennis; and rolled out to all suburbs and towns in PNG.