The Regional Youth Games concept is being used as a vehicle to drive youth agendas while exposing rural talents for the mainstream sporting pathways, a senior government official said.
Director-General for National Youth Development Authority, Joe Itaki said the Regional Youth Games is a rural focused sporting concept being devised under a tripartite partnership arrangement amongst NYDA, PNG Sports Foundation, Department of Community Development and Religion.
“The aim is to bring sporting codes closer to rural youths by engaging them on LLG trials, District champions, and eventually competing at the Regional level to be recognized as regional champions.
“It creates a pathway for rural youths to be exposed in the mainstream sporting arena with the possibility of being scouted for further development. This program also accommodates a day of cultural activities, and religion for all denominations,” said Mr Itaki who is also the Council chairman for the Regional Youth Games.
The Southern and Momase Regions have already hosted the games.
“The two Regions of Southern & Momase held theirs already in 2022 and 2023 respectively. More than 5000 audiences, players, and officials congregated in Madang and Alotau respectively. It was a boost in the informal sector business space for the host provinces,” he said.
For the Highlands Region, its inaugural Regional Youth Games is set to kick off at the National Sports Institute in Goroka from July 1 to 6, 2024.
The Highlands provincial and district representatives met and resolved game schedue during the RYG Consultative meeting in Goroka recently.
Speaking on behalf of the provincial administrator, Community Development Advisor, Ms. Siviri Lalave acknowledged that EHP won the bid to Host the Inaugural Highlands Regional Youth Games.
Ms. Lalave added that with Goroka District hosting the games, it will help to address youth issues through sports in the province.
She said Non-Government Organizations and churches will collaborate with local authorities in this initiative.
Meanwhile, acting Provincial Administrator for New Ireland, Mr. Richard Andia has confirmed Kavieng to host the Inaugural Regional Youth Games for NGI region after the bidding was approved by the RYG Council Chairman, Mr. Joe Itaki and PNG Sports Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Albert Veratau at the Kavieng Beach Resort recently.
All provincial and district representatives agreed with the decision made; the dates set for the games are from the 09th to the 13th of September 2024 during the term three school holidays.
The Council Chairman, Mr. Itaki highlighted that resources are shared by the three agencies, plus the host province.
Preparations are underway towards hosting the Regional Youth Games this year in Goroka and Kavieng Districts.
Mr Itaki calls on corporate houses to sponsor the games.