Athletics PNG has issued a warning to its athletes to respect the PNG Games Charter or face the possibility of missing out on participation in the Games. The warning comes in response to reports of Athletes defecting to other provinces as a result of dissatisfaction with their home province. President Tony Green said that under the Games Charter athletes may only represent the Province in which they were born or the province where they reside (subject to a minimum stay of six months immediately prior to the Games). It is believed that athletes from a certain province are trying to join other provincial teams in protest at a lack of support being given to their preparations for the Games. Green said that Athletics PNG has again been tasked with conducting the Athletic Competition at the PNG Games and will not allow athletes to represent teams that they are not eligible to join. “ We know which team each athlete is eligible for and if they try to join another team now and try to switch later they may find their places in their own team taken by someone else” he added.
Meanwhile Athletics PNG has re affirmed its policy of allowing the great majority of its national team members to participate in the Games. “It is clear that the athletes are motivated to perform well at the Games and this is good for us, said Green as it will help their preparations for the Pacific Games, just as the last Games aided our preparations for the Pacific Mini Games in Wallis & Futuna”. Participation in the Games will only be restricted for the same four Elite athletes, with Toea Wisil, Nelson Stone and Betty Burua being able to participate in the relays but not their individual events. Mowen Boino will not run the hurdles but can take part in other events such as 400m. Athletics PNG has also reminded participating teams that they may enter a maximum of three athletes per event except the half marathon where a maximum of six are allowed. The minimum age for athletes to take part in the half marathon is 17.
September 25th, 2014
Last Modified on 06/10/2014 11:34