Bowlings First Gold Medalists Join 2015 Pacific Games

PNG's first Lawn Bowl Gold medallist Photo credit. 2015 Pacific Games

Papua New Guinea’s first Lawn Bowl Gold medalist from 1990 Commonwealth Games, Geua Tau along with her collogue Elizabeth Bure from 1991 South Pacific Games are among the team of technical officials to umpire Lawn Bowl in the 2015 Pacific Games.

Both women said it is a great experience for them to be part of the Games once again not as athletes representing their country but as Techical Officials.

The pair have a multitude of skills and experiences in bowling and have participated in Commonwealth Games, the South Pacific Games and other international sporting events.

With more advancement in the sport of lawn bowling GOC is helping the local officials like Tau and Bure to improve their skills and knowledge so they can umpire the games at international standards.

As part of GOC’s role in capacity building and preparations leading up to the Games in July, a workshop was held in January this year which saw seventeen officials including the two women successfully completed their training and were awarded a level 1 certificate last Friday in recognition for their effort.

The workshop now allows them to umpire the lawn bowl competition at an international standard, equiped with knowledge of umpiring rules,equipment and the correct measuring procedures.

The course was the first of its kind to be held in the country giving opportunity to equip local technical officials both new and old with new bowling experience.

As an highlight of the workshop the seventeen participants were the first bowlers in the Southern Hemisphere to receive a copy each of the Laws of the Sports of Bowls Crystal Mark Third Edition.

The participants expressed their great satisfaction about the workshop and said they learnt some rules which they never knew, existed.

A refresher course will be will be held for the umpire just before the actual Games in July.

Media Statement - 2015 Pacific Games