[ Photo: Ryan Pini leading the PNG Team in Beijing 2008 Olympics. Photo Source: The National Newspaper]---------------------------------------------------
Papua New Guinean athletes currently in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games deserves some kind of official recognition from the government of Papua New Guinea whether they win any medals or not. Without doubt the few Papua New Guinean athletes in Beijing have done their best by giving their time, talents and effort to make it to the Olympics representing the country they love. It will be shameful if the country they are representing has not invested and given them the best available opportunities to complete at the highest possible level internationally. What saddens me and probably a number of other Papua New Guineans too, is that, Papua New Guinea as a country has not made any serious impact on the Olympic scene. Since 1974 when the PNG Sport Federation (PNGSF) became affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Papua New Guinea had its first Olympic game exposure and opportunity in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. Up until recently, through the work of the PNGSF, many Papua New Guinean sportsmen and women have had the opportunity to compete internationally with some success especially in the Commonwealth and the South Pacific games but, what Papua New Guinea needs now is to focus in making some kind of breakthrough in the Olympic games in 2012 and beyond.
Interestingly, one only needs foresight to realise the immense opportunities that exists to improve Papua New Guinea's tourism potential and its international image abroad. Papua New Guinea as a country needs to improve its image abroad and sports can play a significant role in that endeavour. When many Papua New Guineans are given the opportunity to train and compete abroad, it can only work for the good of the country. When we begin to see Papua New Guineans making the necessary breakthroughs around the world in sports, it can only bring more positive media coverage of Papua New Guinea as a country.
As one look beyond the Beijing 2008 Olympic games, one can only hope that the government of Papua New Guinea and the PNGSF, as partners in nation building, will seriously evaluate the funding, management and development of sports in Papua New Guinea in a more pragmatic, determined and proactive manner with the view of promoting sports within the country and abroad. It is through evaluation that mistakes of the past can be rectified for the collective benefit of the future. I am predicting that one day, Papua New Guineans will say that Olympic golds are no longer dreams but realities.....for now, good luck to Ryan Pini and the Papua New Guinea athletes in Beijing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic games.
Papua New Guinean athletes currently in Beijing for the 2008 Olympic games deserves some kind of official recognition from the government of Papua New Guinea whether they win any medals or not. Without doubt the few Papua New Guinean athletes in Beijing have done their best by giving their time, talents and effort to make it to the Olympics representing the country they love. It will be shameful if the country they are representing has not invested and given them the best available opportunities to complete at the highest possible level internationally. What saddens me and probably a number of other Papua New Guineans too, is that, Papua New Guinea as a country has not made any serious impact on the Olympic scene. Since 1974 when the PNG Sport Federation (PNGSF) became affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Papua New Guinea had its first Olympic game exposure and opportunity in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. Up until recently, through the work of the PNGSF, many Papua New Guinean sportsmen and women have had the opportunity to compete internationally with some success especially in the Commonwealth and the South Pacific games but, what Papua New Guinea needs now is to focus in making some kind of breakthrough in the Olympic games in 2012 and beyond.
Interestingly, one only needs foresight to realise the immense opportunities that exists to improve Papua New Guinea's tourism potential and its international image abroad. Papua New Guinea as a country needs to improve its image abroad and sports can play a significant role in that endeavour. When many Papua New Guineans are given the opportunity to train and compete abroad, it can only work for the good of the country. When we begin to see Papua New Guineans making the necessary breakthroughs around the world in sports, it can only bring more positive media coverage of Papua New Guinea as a country.
As one look beyond the Beijing 2008 Olympic games, one can only hope that the government of Papua New Guinea and the PNGSF, as partners in nation building, will seriously evaluate the funding, management and development of sports in Papua New Guinea in a more pragmatic, determined and proactive manner with the view of promoting sports within the country and abroad. It is through evaluation that mistakes of the past can be rectified for the collective benefit of the future. I am predicting that one day, Papua New Guineans will say that Olympic golds are no longer dreams but realities.....for now, good luck to Ryan Pini and the Papua New Guinea athletes in Beijing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic games.
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