Tura, the Kokomo, is the 2015 Pacific Games Mascot. Kokomo is the pidgin name for Hornbill; a bird species that is unique to PNG.
It was designed by Taka Segore, an 11 year old boy attending Tubusereia Primary School.
Tura in Motu means friend and it symbolizes the friendship PNG will build with the other 22 Pacific Island Nations who will be coming to take part in the games.
It was a proud moment for young Taka when he was caught.
He said he loved drawing and submitted his entry last year when he was in Grade 3.
Coincidently, Taka’s father Gima Segore was the designer of the 1991 South Pacific Games Mascot, a Kapul.
He was speechless when he heard his son was the winner of the 2015 Games Mascot Competition.
“I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless” were Segore’s first words when interviewed.
“Taka loves drawing at his early age and would sketch anything”, said Segore.
Taka received K500 and a new BSP Sumatin Account.
His artwork was selected among 250 entries from all schools throughout the country.
His school is K10, 000 richer from the Pacific Games Organizing Committee.
Five Schools including Daigul SDA Community School in Madang, Holy Trinity School from Western Highlands, Sekunkun Primary School in Lihir, New Ireland and Port Moresby International were the runner ups of the Mascot Competition.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop will welcome the mascot tomorrow at the Jack Pidik Park.
The event was one of the highlights which will be recorded in PNG history book as the countdown continues to the 2015 Pacific Games.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=D5g2eT9KyMc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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