HE hefty payout of K200,000 for two Commonwealth Games gold medal winners
will be delivered on their arrival from Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday afternoon. Minister for Sports and 2015 Pacific Games Justin Tkatchenko gave the assurance when asked when and how the payments would be made for the gold medal winners. The weightlifting gold medal duo, Steven Kari and veteran Dika Toua, from Hanubada village, in the National Capital District, won in their respective weights; Kari in the 94-kilogramme and Toua in women’s 53kg division. Tkatchenko said the National Government had made the commitment, which would see Prime Minister Peter O’Neill make the presentation of K100,000 each to Kari and Toua. “Our commitment is very clear and both athletes will receive their prizes courtesy of the National Gaming Control Board,” Tkatchenko said. The money is from the National Gaming Control Board funds. Before the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the government offered cash incentives to all athletes to Glasgow that gold medal winners would pocket K100,000, silver would get K50,000, while bronze medalists would get K25,000. Tkatchenko, who participated at the award ceremonies of both lifters, said it was an honour to present medals to the country’s newest champions. This is the second time the government has offered cash incentives for medal winners at regional and international games. Tkatchenko said the government offered K5000 for individual medal winners in the last Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna. “We have done it despite PNG not sending its elite athletes to Wallis. PNG topped the gold medal count there. It was from this experience that the state decided to reward its top athletes for their success and that continued for the Commonwealth Games,” he said. Tkatchenko said there was similar package for the athletes selected for the 2015 Pacific Games next year. These announcements will be made soon to help motivate our athletes to prepare for the Port Moresby Games next year. A cash incentive was offered to Ryan Pini and Dika Toua when they won their gold and silver medals respectively in 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, while Paralympian Francis Kompaon, who won silver at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, used his money to pay for an education at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. PNG Facts/The national Comments are closed.
|
Papua New Guinea Breaking NewsPapua New Guinea daily News updates Let Your Voice be heard: Submit your news articles, commentaries, letters , Photos, Media Releases etc to us on this email: pngfacts@gmail.com
Mining & PetroleumTop Links |