A year of sport dominates Papua New Guinea

While Papua New Guinea will stage national elections in June and July, since November last year the country's agenda has been dominated by sport.

Having staged the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup from 13th November to 3rd December 2016, in late October and early November this year the nation will host three Rugby League World Cup pool matches in the capital, Port Moresby.

With the Rugby League World Cup predicted by some as being likely to overshadow the election, the Paul Barrière Trophy was recently in the country.

Speaking at an official welcome event held at the National Football Stadium late last month, RLWC2017 Chief Executive Andrew Hill reflected upon the excitement and anticipation surrounding the event, particularly the fixtures in PNG.

Hill explained "the eyes of the sporting world will be fixed on Papua New Guinea during October and November, when Port Moresby hosts the Kumuls three Rugby League World Cup pool games against Wales, Ireland, and the USA.

"The 2017 Rugby League World Cup will be an event that stops the nation, allowing the people of Papua New Guinea to showcase their pride at hosting a global sporting event, and will bring communities together like no other event could."

Earlier this year, Oil Search was announced as an Official Platinum Partner of the tournament and a key supporter of the tournament’s in-country community program, which includes an extensive Trophy Tour in the lead up to the RLWC2017.

While rugby league is the nation's national passion, football is gaining increasing recognition in PNG..

Staged across four stadiums in Port Moresby, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup saw the staging of 32 games – with North Korea winning the final 3-1 over France.

The tournament was not only an important event in sporting terms for world football governing body FIFA and the host nation; but it also triggered positive changes in regard to women's roles in society in the country.

Football offered the perfect platform for diverse social programs, such as the #ENDviolence initiative that campaigned against the use of violence towards women and children in 10 Pacific States.

While the Papua New Guinea team did not reach the knockout stage of the competition, the attention it received was the highest of any woman’s national team in the country, with the 23 players becoming household names by the tournaments end.

Unfortunately, since the end of the tournament sweeping changes in terms of football for women in PNG proposed by PNG Football Associaton President David Chung has led to considerable political infighting in the sport.

With Chung re-elected as President of the PNG FA after the FIFA tournament, founding President John Kapi Natto has been behind the creation of rebel national men’s competition and the creation of the new Football Federation of Papua New Guinea (FFPNG).

The breakaway National Premier League in Papua New Guinea kicked off in early April, with a series of matches being played in Port Moresby and Lae.

While FIFA initially appeared reluctant to step in to resplve the dispute, the Oceania Football Confederation's General Secretary, Tai Nicholas, says neither OFC nor FIFA have received any formal notification of FFPNG's existence, and he goes on to claim that it is not registered as a legal entity with Papua New Guinea's Investment Promotion Authority, as required by law.

Nicholas has also accused the new league's interim chairman, Madiu Andrew, of making misleading statements by suggesting that FIFA have endorsed the new organisation.

Images: A recent event promoting 2017 Rugby League World Cup games in Papua New Guinea (top), the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup trophy (middle) and the FIFA tournament backing the #ENDviolence initiative (below).

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