The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee has celebrated Olympic Day ©PNGOC

The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) celebrated Olympic Day with sporting events at the Rita Flynn Courts in Port Moresby.

Olympic Day is dedicated to the founding of the international Olympic Movement by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1894.

It aims to spread the ideals of the Olympic Movement and promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

PNGOC held various sport demonstrations, allowing each discipline to showcase their game, skills and talents as well as educate and inform students from various schools.

Those in attendance could try their hand at archery, badminton, basketball, karate, taekwondo, netball, volleyball, cricket, football, gymnastics and fencing.

Activities included learning about the Olympic ideals and sport demonstrations ©PNGOC
Activities included learning about the Olympic ideals and sport demonstrations ©PNGOC

Other activities included educational awareness on Olympism and the Olympic values, as well as group work and presentations from students.

"The Olympic Movement is a worldwide movement and Papua New Guinea, through the PNGOC is a part of this," said PNGOC secretary general Auvita Rapilla.

"It is the highest level of sport that all athletes aspire to.

"But the Olympic Movement is not just about sports, there are many lessons and inspirational messages promoted by the Olympic Movement as well as educational and developmental programmes that it drives through the various sports and the athletes around the world.

"We are proud to be part of this worldwide movement and we celebrate the Olympic Day the best way we can, using the Olympics' most important tool, sports."