The National Sports Institute took time out today to recognize and celebrate International Women’s Day. This organization is almost equal in terms of gender participation at our workplace with 42% who are women serving in various roles at this Goroka office.

This year 2023 the IWD theme raises awareness on diversity, equity and inclusiveness. We continue in our endeavors to recognize and push for a “world where difference is valued and celebrated”. Together with all our women folk in the sporting fraternity and community here in the Eastern Highlands, we acknowledge and celebrate women who have raised the level and participation of sport in Papua New Guinea. There is still a lot more we can do.

Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity .

#internationalwomensday23

#applaudequalityforwomeninsport

The NSI Athlete Development Program (ADP) has resumed officially for 2023 with the last lot of athletes arriving at camp on Monday 20th February. The ADP has grown since 2020 having started with just 3 athletes. This year the Institute granted five (5) new athletes into the program giving a total of 13; two of whom are now US based. This makes it 11 ADP athletes officially in camp. In addition to the eleven, 1 female athlete, Joy Tieba, is granted ‘Probation’ status until her performance qualifies her to be part of this residential program.

Preparations began at the end of January with Medical Checks and a series of Fitness Tests. This ADP demands a 50-50 percent effort in both Training and Education. Two athletes are enrolled at formal school in Year 12, one is upgrading Year 12 at Department of Open and Distance Learning (DODL), while the rest are registered at Flexible Open Distance Learning (FODE) Goroka Centre to complete their education.

The month of February saw athletes getting back to shape in the gym and at the track. Schedules are pretty hectic with sessions starting as early as 5.30am and ending with study sessions concluding at 9pm. These athletes have an arduous task ahead as competitions are just around the corner. They have to get into a training routine at the same time, maintain a regular study pattern. This will continue until their first competition in May this year.

Our Team:

Assistant coaches Mike Smith and Philip Kamane return back on duty supporting Head Coach, Mr. Samu Sasama, in various capacities. The team hope to excel this year again under the stewardship of Mr. Sasama.

Director NSI acknowledges the continued support of the PNG Sports Foundation through the CEO Mr. Albert Veratau. We also appreciate and thank our partner Athletics PNG Inc. for their assistance towards the program so far. Much gratitude to the families, friends, and Eastern Highlands for backing us when we reach out to you.

Tune in the next time as we profile our athletes leading up to the Highlands/Momase Regional Athletics Championship in Goroka on 27th – 28th May 2023.

The National Sports Institute (NSI) through its Sports Information & Information Technology (SIIT) section conducted its first training for the year 2022 on the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) Online Database system. The NSI is a division of the PNGSF based in Goroka, EHP. This software was developed by this section to capture and house all the data from all sports training or workshops conducted by the organisation in all centres.

In brief, the rudiment database system was created back in 2008 on a simple Excel spreadsheet. By 2010, data collected up to that year were migrated onto Access. Over the years, the database did not improve or serve its purpose as we faced challanges in freighting raw data to NSI given the region’s geographical locations, and the database was somewhat isolated as there was only one or two data entry officers designated to that database at NSI. 

PNSGF saw the need to give current and real-time data to its stakeholders in terms of Sport Programs conducted right around the country. Hence this development by NSI’s IT Manager to capture these data. A total of 19 staff are in attendance at this training. 5 from Lae, 1 from Kokopo, 1 from AROB, and the rest from NSI. The purpose of the training is to introduce this Online Database software to all regional program staff; to appreciate the forms necessary to generate the right data; and, to access and input data from anywhere at anytime as long as they have internet connectivity. With the use of technology, any PNGSF program staff with granted access can enter data immediately after their training from any locality. Once the data is inputed, reports can be generated accordingly and provided as and when data is needed. For example, a report may be requested for how many programs conducted in the EHP by PNGSF; how many people trained in a certain program in a year; and/or how much a particular program costed in any given year. 

Director NSI thanked all those who were able to travel to attend this important three-day workshop. She stressed again on the importance using the correct forms to enter correct and factal data only. Limited access may be granted due to the security of the data. This same training will later be conducted for PNGSF staff in Port Moresby.  

Lead Facilitator: Mr Henry Tom

Director of NSI, MS Janet Gimots

NSI SIIT Section, Course Presentation

The ICT Section conducted a Professional Development Training on how to create and publish articles, stories, and updates on NSI activities through its website : http://www.pngnsi.org.pg

The training was conducted by ICT Manager Mr. Henry Tom who has developed the website. 

Please check our website for updates, activities, and articles on NSI’s current activities.

Goroka town and the National Sports Institute came alive last weekend during the International Rugby League test match between PNG Orchids and England Women. England Women won the match 24 -10.

The Primary School Sports Program conducted a ball games festival featuring Volleyball, Touch, and Futsal (five-aside-soccer) on Thursday, 5th Sept 2019.

District school teams from 5 districts within Eastern Highlands Province attended the one day competition. The districts are: Goroka, Henganofi, Daulo, Unggai-Bena, and Obura-Wonenara.

All sports were contested under two divisions – under 16 and 16 plus.

Results

The overall winner of the festival is Goroka District with Obura-Wonenara as runner up. Unggai-Bena District won the under 16 Division while Goroka District took out the 16 plus division.

The Primary School Sports Program is an initiative of the Institute and it is conducted under the Sports Excellence Section. The concept has grown from strength to strength since its roll out in 2017 and to date it is driven through all districts in EHP. The concept will soon be rolled out into other provinces as well.