PNG Hunters to trial stadium

THE Papua New Guinea Hunters will provide the perfect test of the Sir John Guise Stadium on June 7 when they host the Ipswich Jets in their Round 13 fixture.
With the Pacific Games venues set to be handed over by the builders to the Games Organising Committee on May 31, the window for the testing of venues will be tight.
The match, according to the SP Hunters management, is being organised to help the Games organisers and to introduce the Hunters to Port Moresby fans for the first time.
The game will see the eventual the relocation of the club to the capital city from their base at the Kalabond Oval in Kokopo, East New Britain.
The Sir John Guise Stadium is expected to have a capacity of 15,000 people and the Hunters are confident the Q-Cup fixture will attract league fans as well as those who want to see the venue before the Games opening ceremony on July 4.
But this is only one of several events organisers plan to use in the one month period between the handover and the opening ceremony in order to test the facilities.
The tests will look at seating, amenities, lighting, power, sound, communication, broadcasting, ticketing, parking, transport, safety, security and other all aspects involved in hosting a multi-competition event like the regional Games.
The Taurama Aquatic Centre (1000), the Sir John Guise Stadium and indoor complex (2000), the Games Village and the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (10,000) — despite being a Games venue per se — will be tested by organisers for their capacity and ability to handle large numbers of fans and competitions.
The Bisini sports grounds, including the lawn bowls, soccer, softball, touch football and cricket pitches, are expected to be tested as well.
Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan said he would have liked more time for testing and resolving any problems but everything was planned in line with the tight construction schedules.  
“Normally, you would want the venues completed and ready for testing at least six months before the Games but that isn’t the case here.
“We will have to manage the testing in the time we have,” Lakhan said.
He said that would put pressure on the organisers to be able to make running adjustments to whatever glitches arose from the testing. The National