With the National elections over, and some clarity at last on the PNG Games, Athletics PNG has revised and updated its 2022 Calendar of events as it heads into a busy period of domestic competitions. “With so many international events from June to August as well as the elections, it was always the plan to hold our National and Regional Championships in the second half of the year”, said Secretary Philip Rehder.
However the big unknown was the PNG Games and now that is definitely off this year it clears the way for us to hold the PNG Air National Championships in December again. ”This timing worked well for us in both 2020 and 2021 and we are looking forward to another successful championships in Port Moresby from 9 to 11 December”. Some additional competitions will be organised in the lead up to the Championships to assist athletes in their preparations.
The National Sports Institute is gearing up to host the PNG Air Highlands Regional Championships this weekend and Port Moresby will again host the PNG Air Southern Region Championships on the weekend of October 1 and 2. Discussions are ongoing with representatives in the NGI Region to finalise the arrangements for the Championships there, following the announcement this week of ENB plans to host a Regional Youth Games at the same time.
Apart from the Pacific Games in Honiara, athletes have a number of other international events to look forward to next year, including the Melanesian Championships in Nadi. Oceania Athletic Association has decided to combine the Polynesian and Melanesian Championships to boost the quality of both events. PNG will be sending both male and female athletes to the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst in February and there will also be World Championships (both indoor and outdoor); World Relays; and a Commonwealth Youth Games. With the announcement this week that the 2023 PNG Games will be held in Port Moresby during the second term holiday,
Athletics PNG will need to give some consideration to the timing of the National Championships, as these two events will obviously have a significant bearing on the selection of the team for the Pacific Games in Honiara.
