Team Papua New Guinea’s official motorcade left parliament house at 1pm after Prime Minister Peter O’Neil presented a cheque of K100, 000 each to both Steven Kari and Dika Toua. The mall, Vision City was the first point of contact as the entourage halted traffic.
While initially onlookers had taken a moment to register, the familiar faces of the gold medallists’, soon had them cheering and waving.
The motorcade travelled through various locations throughout Port Moresby greeted by large crowds along the Boroko area, and the seaside venue of Ela Beach, also the same, residents all stepping out to cheer on the team.
Gold medalists Dika Toua and Steven Kari were on separate vehicles, at times sitting on the roof, Toua calmly poised, Kari clearly revelling in the moment.
The motorcade ended at the Hubert Murray Cricket Ground and the official reception ceremony continued at the Gateway Hotel.