ncdc

Community Services

Sports

SPORTS

Perhaps the most effective, far-reaching community support services provided by the National Capital District Commission of Port Moresby is Sports. The potential and the reach of Sports as a tool for Human Development has been tried and proven everywhere, with Port Moresby being no exception.

The National Capital District Commission, through its Social Services Division (Sports Desk), works closely with the national sporting body, the PNG Sports Foundation, to plan and implement sporting programs throughout the length and breadth of Port Moresby.

PNG National Games: On top of this program tier, is the PNG National Games, a mammoth task that culminates once every two years in selected provincial capitals in Papua New Guinea and is made up of up some 10,000 athletes and officials. The Sports Desk scouts local clubs in NCD and does selections, organises training, monitors training, sits for close consultation with the various sporting code and association managers, fundraises to meet the budget, liaises with the localhost/NCDC for counter-funding and manages everything in relation to Team National Capital District (NCD) participation at the Games. Team NCD often comprises up to 600 athletes and officials to any one PNG National Games and requires a budget of up to K1.5 million. The NCD Commission usually meets a good portion of the financial demands of Team NCD with the remainder left to the Sports Desk and Team NCD to meet directly through fundraising dinners and other such activities. At the Games, Team NCD has led in its performance in most of the sporting codes, testament to the time and effort put in by localhost/NCDC in elevating the standard of Sports in the National Capital.

Sports for Schools: The next program in line is the ‘Pikinini Pilai Sports’, targeting NCD schools during holidays. The idea is to engage school children in popular sports – Volleyball, Basketball and Netball. Softball and Beach Ball are currently being mooted. Interest is very high among schools and this has taken off quite successfully.

Sports for the Unemployed: ‘Holiday Games’, is another program targeting the unemployed youth of Port Moresby. It is usually held during selected public holidays such as Easter, Queens Birthday or Independence Day and has been successful in sensitizing young men and women to the idea of community-building and self-empowerment.

Sports for the Working Class: The NCD Commission also plans and coordinates the Corporate Volleyball Competition for staff and families of those within the Formal Sector. Up to 20 organisations take part annually during the ‘Off Season’, the period between November and April when the City Sports competitions go into recess. The idea behind this program is to promote Healthy Living among the Working Class and since its inception has worked very well because of Volleyball’s easier participation nature.

Sports for localhost/NCDC itself: Once every year, the Sports Desk also organises an in-house sports day for the staff of localhost/NCDC where, for the day, employees are outdoors playing Touch Rugby, Volleyball and Netball, all in gender-mixed teams.


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