Prime Minister Hon. James Marape is very keen on reviving the PNG Games in 2025, as he initiated discussions today (18.11.24) between PNG Sports Federation, Southern Highlands Provincial Government, and PNG LNG developer ExxonMobil and Santos.
The Games, held every two years and known colloquially as the ‘Grassroots Games’ because of its key focus to coordinate and involve sportsmen and women throughout the districts of the country, has gone into a seven-year hiatus since it was last held in Kimbe, West New Britain Province in 2017.
Prime Minister Marape said in the meeting with the stakeholders he wanted to see the PNG Games return next year 2025 as part of the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary activities – to be held in Southern Highlands Province.
He highlighted the vital role sports and PNG Games play in promoting and strengthening national unity among Papua New Guineans and thanked partners, ExxonMobil and Santos for once more agreeing to support this community-development program.
The National Government, Southern Highlands Provincial Government, PNG Sports Federation and stakeholder partners with interest in SHP, such as ExxonMobil and Santos, have to now meet the Games budget of K270 million.
Initial planning has begun with surveys and scoping studies of the venue and facilities to be used in the Games already completed. Thirty-three (33) schools have been identified to host different codes of sports, spreading the benefits across the districts where the new facilities will remain for use by students after the Games have ended.
Security is also a key component of the planning with 200 police personnel anticipated to work to secure the sporting event from start to finish. So is transport and infrastructure which must also be worked upon.
Prime Minister Marape expects a 20,000-athlete participation over the two weeks of the event, and said the National Government component of the funding would come out from the 50th Independence anniversary budget.
He is looking forward to making the 2025 PNG Games a major event with much fanfare, stating that welcoming posts into the hinterland of the country would be staged in Highlands provinces leading into SHP along the Highlands Highway for Momase and NGI athletes travelling up from Madang and Lae; and Southern athletes travelling through Kikori on the new highways constructed under Connect PNG program.
ExxonMobil and Santos are working with Government to assist fund the infra- structure for the Games as part of their community obligation to SHP as the developers of PNG LNG.
PM Marape has urged that all stakeholder partners work together immediately to deliver PNG Games 2025 in time to add to the 50th anniversary events next year, 2025.