Operation

G0ld ... a mould for PNG

By Frank Senge

WHEN housewife, Geua Tau came out of obscurity to win Papua New Guinea’s first ever gold medal at the Auck land Commonwealth Games, tears filled Bart Philemon’s eyes.

For Philemon and very many Papua New Guineans who also shed tears, it was not Geua’s spectacular bowling which saw her demolish some of world’s best. It was the way the PNG flag was draped around her after her win and the way the National Anthem was played to the world as she took the stand.

Now, Chairman of the South Pacific Games Foundation, Bart Philemon and his team of officials refer to the 9th South

Pacific Games as “Operation Gold’ with a similar motive in mind. They want PNG sports men and women to win as many gold medals as possible.

But more so, they want the games to be a major public relations exercise for the country.

W ith' its public image overseas trained by wide publicity of crime problems besetting this nation of nearly 4 million people, the games could have come at no better times.

Security and preparations.

“We must clean up our cities”, 1 inance and Planning Minister Paul Pora told a gathering of PNG Urban Councils in April.

“VVe must get ready to greet our neighbours from the South I acific. AVe must clear our image

problem quickly”.

Ironically, the image problem has nearly brought the prep arations lor the Games to a standstill. Larly this year, four countries Fiji, Tahiti, Western Samoa and New Caledonia ha\c written or made personal representation asking lor assur ances that their teams would be sale.

New Caledonia and Tahitian

representatives met with Deputy Prime Minister, Ted Diro (now suspended) and Games Officials who assured them that adequate security would be provided for the Games.

However, by then it was too late. The

two stadiums at Port Moresby and Lae were nearly completed. The Games village in Port Moresby and the reno vation of the Lae Technical College to accommodate teams had started. The SP Games Foundation had spent most of a

K 1 million raised mainly

through private sponsorship.

The Government threw a 8 am to 5 pm curfew in Port

Moresby, Lae, Popondetta

and Mt Hagen where crime was prevalent.

Upon request from the Games Foundation the Gov ernment allocated an ad ditional K 1 million for com munication equipment for Police and Defence Force Per sonnel who will provide secur ity during the games.

There will be 1000 police men and women, 250 police reservists and 260 defence force soldiers providing 24 hour security at all the games venues, during transportation between venues and at accom modation sites. Every vehicle to be used in the Games has been fitted with Police radios.

Said chairman Philemon: “Security surveys have been carried out at all the compe tition venues and training centres in the two cities where the Games will be held. I can assure you every precaution

Ready for the public: Foundation chairman Bart Philemon believes safety precautions are well in hand

Ready for the athletes: The stadium in Port Moresby for the South Pacific Games

will be taken to ensure everyone’s safety.

“We have gone to the extent of fitting police radios, in all vehicles used to transport all athletes and officials during their stay in PNG as well as placing security men on each bus.”

Philemon said Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu has spoken on a government to government level with governments of all

participating countries.

He said with about 3000 athletes and officials expected and 1500 security forces deployed the ratio is one to two.

And so far it seems to be working.

Seventeen of the 20 countries which nominated to attend the Games have confirmed that they will send teams with Wallis and Futuna, Kiribati and Palau uncertain at the moment, Philemon said.

After initial complaints early this year that preparations were falling behind schedule, Philemon is confident that all venues will be ready well before the start

of the Games on September 7.

The Port Moresby Games village, the indoor and main stadium, synthetic track, din ing motel and light towers have either been completed and handed over to the Foundation or nearing com

pletion.

In Lae the main stadium has been handed over and only the weightlifting and volleyball venues have yet to be completed. Upgrading of

the Lae Technical College to accommo date 1000 athletes and officials is also

nearing completion.

Philemon said that preparing for the SP Games was similar to that of the Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

The Government has promised to release Public Servants on full pay to help out at the games. The Central Bank has already designed and released a 50 Toea coin with the Games logo and is in the process of designing a plastic K 2 and KlO for the Games also.

One setback has been a cost overrun by some K 2 million which the Foun dation is now trying to recoup through cost cuts.

The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday September 7, 1991. Prince Andrew will officially open the Games.

The eight South Pacific Games at tracted 12 countries and was the largest to date. If all countries which have nominated send teams, the games in PNG will be the largest.

American Samoa has indicated it will be sending a team of 190 to compete in athletics, basketball, board sailing, box ing, golf, hobie cats, lawn tennis, netball, softball, table tennis, volleyball and weightlifting. They are traditionally strong in basketball and boxing.

Cook Islands will be sending a team of 91 to compete in athletic, bowls, boxing, golf, hobie cats, lawn tennis, netball,

rugby union and weightlifting.

The Federated States of Micronesia will be making their first appearance in the South Pacific Games, entering teams in basketball and volleyball.

They hosted the Micronesian Games early this year. They will bring a team of 50 to PNG.

Fiji will send one of the largest teams with 240 Sports men and women ex pected to participate. They are expected to provide strong competition in ath letics, bowls, basketball, rugby union,

soccer and netball in addition to fielding teams in almost all events.

French Polynesia is ex pected to send 283 people to compete in 15 of the 18 sports.

South Pacific Games Council President, Dr Lysis Lavigne is from this country and at the last council meeting in April,

French Polynesia (Tahiti)

won the rights to host the 10th South Pacific Games in 1995.

Other countries that have

nominated teams are Guam with 228 to compete in 14 games; Marshall Islands with 23 to compete in two Games; Nauru will send 91 to compete in seven Games; New Caledonia, host of the last Games will send 307 to compete in 15 Games; Norfolk Island will send 30 to compete in 10 Games; Niue will send 11 people to compete in two Games; Tonga, the Friendly Islands to send 211 to contest 12 event; Vanuatu will send 196 to compete in 11 events; Western Samoa will send a team of 207, and Solomon Islands will send 247 to compete in 17 events. Palau, Wallis and Futuna and Kiribati have indicated they will attend but have not yet reconfirmed their participation with the Games organisers.

All figures given are subject to further confirmation.

Papua New Guinea as host nation will compete in all 18 sports, fielding 422

competitors.

This is the first Game hosted in PNG since Independence in 1975 and author ities arc hopeful, it will lead the medal tally for the first time.

South Pacific Games '91