MEDIA RELEASE
19 December 2007
For immediate release
Australian Government supports boxing club
Hohola Youth Boxing Club today opened its new and improved club house which has been renovated with funding from the Australian Government.
The grassroots club in Port Moresby was supported under the Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) to upgrade its training area and purchase new equipment.
Australia’s High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Mr Chris Moraitis, joined the club organisers and members to celebrate the official opening.
“Hohola Youth Boxing Club is a true grassroots club and it is seeking to make a real difference to the lives of ordinary people in Hohola,” Mr Moraitis said.
“This club wants to develop young male and female boxers and offer an alternative to ‘raskol’ – or criminal – behaviour. The Australian Government supports that aim wholeheartedly which is why we supported this club with funding from ASOP.”
Mr Moraitis said ASOP is designed to provide assistance to grassroots sports projects that are inclusive and help bring about real change to local communities.
“Australia is a close friend and a close partner of PNG and I hope that our contribution to Hohola Youth Boxing Club will, in its own small way, help to bring Australia and PNG even closer together,” he added.
Club founder and president, Nick Calibud, thanked the Australian Government for its assistance.
“We are a newly established club and our members are youths from the suburbs of Hohola. We hope that through sport we can divert young people away from crime and get them focused on living positive lives and developing towards a positive future.”
The club plans to stage amateur competitions on a quarterly basis with other boxing clubs in Port Moresby. It is also hoping to take part in the national championships.
Media Inquiries: Raymond Palangat, Public Diplomacy Officer, T: 325 9333 ext 454