14 July 2014

Australia supports Karate in PNG

Forty senior Karate instructors from around Papua New Guinea have completed a Karate seminar held in Port Moresby with Australia’s support.

The camp was organised by the PNG Karate Federation (PNGKF) with funding assistance of A$10,000 from the Australian Sports Outreach Program, under the Pacific Sports Development Grants.

The PNGKF – the umbrella body for Karate styles, clubs and associations in the country – conducted the Beyond 2015 seminar program.

“With Australia’s support we are taking Karate beyond 2015,” PNGKF President Carl Mari said.

“With a successful Karate competition in 2012 and preparations for the 2014 PNG games and 2015 Pacific Games, the PNGKF have enrolled many children in karate clubs throughout the country.

“The Beyond 2015 seminar program is improving the skill level of instructors and coaches’ knowledge in training, coaching, transparency and accountability regarding children, awareness about general safety and protection of children to meet athletes and community expectation beyond 2015.

“We are encouraging women and girls to participate in the sport and are pleased that 16 women are attending the seminar.”

The Beyond 2015 seminar focused on drills, basic coaching and refereeing and judging. New instructors signed up to the PNGKF Child Protection Policy as a condition of becoming a Karate instructor under the PNGKF.

The Pacific Sports Development Grants assists to targeted small to medium size community-focussed sport-based projects in mostly Commonwealth countries. The PNG Karate Federation previously received a grant in 2012 to conduct a coaching and training camp.