Para-athlete, John Kaytiri, has appealed to the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation (PNGSF) and business houses to help him as he prepares to take part in the upcoming PNG Unity Games next year in Mendi, Southern Highlands Province.
Kaytiri, from Pangia in the Southern Highlands Province, has been participating in various sports like weight lifting, javelin, discus, and shot-put for almost five years, excelling and posting impressive records in those codes.
The gifted para-athlete shared his grievances and hoped that any kind-hearted person or corporate organization could step in to support him to fulfill his dream next year.
“I am prepared to attend the PNG Games in Mendi, but I need some financial assistance. I’ll be doing a small fundraising drive to prepare myself for the upcoming games,” Kaytiri said.
Kaytiri expressed concerns about the welfare of special needs athletes, saying that the government and PNG Sports Foundation haven’t given them the much-needed support to realize their sporting dreams.
“The government and PNGSF haven’t prioritized us (special needs athletes) for so many years. Our pleas and concerns have time and again fallen on deaf ears. It’s about time they need to prioritize us,” Kaytiri said.
He said he had been using his own resources to attend the training sessions, which is very challenging. Despite zero support, he continues to attend the training to maintain his fitness level in preparation for the PNG Games.
The Pangian para-athlete revealed that he would need a budget between K5,000 - K6,000 to meet his traveling expenses like airfares, accommodation, meals, and other associated costs.
NB: If any individuals or business houses would like to support John Kaytiri, he can be reached through this phone number - 79540761.
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