2015 Games to give defence facilities facelift

Caption:   Minister Tkatchenko making the announcement while Governor Parkop looks on


By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 (Midweek Chronicle,PNG)



Sport Minister Justin Tkatchenko, announced that within the next couple of weeks, tenders will be put through to construct brand new sporting facilities at both the Taurama, and Murray Barracks respectively in preparation for the 2015 South Pacific Games.

The minister made the announcement while inspecting the new Taurama bypass next to the Taurama Barracks.

Facilities will include new state of the art swimming pools to replace the current run down ones that lay idle at both barracks’, which will enable participating athletes to train, that will leave a lasting legacy for the soldiers to train and their families to use after the games.

“Adding to that we are going to construct a brand new gymnasium at the Murray Barracks that will also be used for training by athletes.”

“We will also upgradethe old theatrette, whichwill be where the Taekwondo events will take place,”the minister announced.
All four projects will be completed by between February and March of next year at the cost of K50 million.

“We are rolling out all our programs around the country through the PNG Sports Foundation.”

“And projects such as the one in collaboration with the PNGDF is a win-win situation for all- unfortunately it has taken a long time to get these projects underway because of the tedious procedures that have to we have to go through to get them approved, which in our case was 9 months.”

Brigadier General Francis Agwi, thanked the minister, government and the PNG Sports Foundation for the projects on behalf of the servicemen and women of the military, saying that the facilities will enhance their training.