THE Australian government and Special Olympics Papua New Guinea are expanding inclusive sporting opportunities for children and young people with disabilities in the National Capital District and Central.
Funded through Australia’s Play for Equity initiative, the programme supports PNG’s mission to provide year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Key activities delivered under the grant include:
• A BADMINTON coaching course for 20 school and community coaches, equipping them to better support athletes with disabilities;
• A BADMINTON competition involving 50 para-athletes aged 10-18, offering rare opportunities for young athletes – especially girls – to compete in a supportive environment.
• A TWO-day unified football competition, where 205 players with and without disabilities competed together, promoting inclusion, teamwork, and respect.
Teams lined up and ready at the start of the Special Olympics PNG unified football competition at the University of Papua New Guinea sports field. – Picture supplied
Special Olympics PNG sports director Sophia Tuna praised the initiative: “Thanks to the Australian government’s Play for Equity programme, we have been able to deliver more inclusive sports activities in PNG, reaching hundreds of children and creating safe spaces where they can play, belong and grow. Opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise.”
The grant also supported bocce ball and athletics coaching, ending in a “come and try” athletics competition marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities last December.
Since 2022, Play for Equity has funded 63 community-led projects across 13 Pacific Island countries, advancing gender and disability justice through sport and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for participation and connection.