A fund-raising auction has been held to help Papua New Guinea's preparations for Rio 2016 ©PNGOC

A total of K176,100 (£40,000/$57,000/€51,000) has been raised to help Papua New Guinea prepare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at an auction held at the Lae Yacht club.

The auction saw 17,200 members of the corporate community purchase t-shirts for the annual Trukai Fun Run event, which brought in K172,000 (£39,500/$56,000/€50,000).

The shirts carry a message of “Protect Your Family from Cancer, Eat Healthy and Exercise Regularly”, with the Fun Run due to take place on June 26.

The run has been arranged due to a partnership between the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) and Trukai Industries, who are acting as the event’s naming rights sponsor for the 17th time.

As well as the sale of the Fun Run t-shirts, a further K4,100 (£942/$1,330/€1,200) was raised through the sale of a North Queensland Cowboys rugby league jersey from their National Rugby League Premiership victory last year, signed by captain Johnathan Thurston.

PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura praised the input of local businesses at the auction, seen as a crucial fund-raising opportunity to aid the country’s athletes in their preparations for this summer’s Olympics.

“The PNGOC relies heavily on sponsors’ support as well as the government and the Trukai Fun Run contributes immensely towards the success of Papua New Guinean athletes,” he said.

PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura praised the input of local businesses at the auction
PNGOC President Sir John Dawanincura praised the input of local businesses at the auction ©PNGOC

According to Emma Waiwai, who led the Organising Committee for last year’s Pacific Games in Port Moresby and will be Papua New Guinea’s Chef de Mission at Rio 2016, three athletes from the country have qualified for the Games.

“Papua New Guinea is blessed with talented athletes who continue to put us on the world map at various international sporting events,” Trukai sales and marketing general manager Andrew Daubney said.

“It is because of these talents that Trukai Industries continues to host this major fundraising drive to help them further their sporting dreams.

“I would like to thank all the business houses, institutions and partners, who have been at the forefront with Trukai in the last 17 years, backing Team PNG by supporting this event in one way or another.

“Without you, our Fun Run event will not be a success.

"Without your support, our PNG athletes cannot achieve their dreams, to win medals for Papua New Guinea.”