Oil Search Pacific Games Relay begins 100 day journey in lead up to the 2015 Pacific Games

Oil Search Pacific Games relays begin. Photo supplied. 

The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay officially launched in a traditional lagatoi ceremony yesterday, 

Wednesday 25 March, at an official event attended by the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Hon 

Peter O' Neill, in celebration of Thursday 26 March signifying 100 days to go until the Opening 

Ceremony of the 2015 Pacific Games on Saturday 4 July 2015.

The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay will see one baton reach seven million people and travel to 22 

Provinces, spreading a message of welcome for all of Papua New Guinea to join in the 2015 Pacific 

Games.

The Oil Search Pacific Games Relay provides every province in Papua New Guinea the opportunity to 

showcase its people, its culture, its natural beauty and its history.

Games Relay Manager, Tamzin Wardley, said the aim of the Relay is bring the 2015 Pacific Games to 

the people of Papua New Guinea. 

“The Relay will be symbolic of all of Papua New Guinea and will include the best spots in each 

province, whether they be internationally famous or somewhere that is important to the people of 

that province, and we want as many people as possible to experience the magic of the Games,” 

Tamzin said. 

Gerea Aopi, Oil Search Executive General Manager External Affairs and Sustainability, said: “As a 

proud Papua New Guinean company, we are delighted to be taking this wonderful event right across 

the country and providing an opportunity for those people who are unable to come to Port Moresby 

to be part of the Games through the Oil Search Pacific Games Relay.

“Over the last 86 years, Oil Search has contributed to Papua New Guinea on a commercial level by 

creating thousands of jobs for PNG citizens and improving the health and wellbeing of many more 

through sustainable community initiatives and the Oil Search Health Foundation,” Mr. Aopi said.

“Our sponsorship of the Oil Search Pacific Games Relay represents yet another investment in the

PNG population that makes up over 80% of our local workforce and demonstrates our commitment 

to PNG, its people and its future,” Mr. Aopi concluded.

The 2015 Pacific Games will see Port Moresby host over 3,000 athletes from 22 Pacific nations, as 

they compete in 28 sports over a 14-day feast of sporting excellence.

The XV Pacific Games and will see the Pacific’s best athletes and teams, including the addition of 

competitors from Australia and New Zealand for the first time, battling it out on an international 

stage to secure the title of Pacific Island Champion.