PAPUA New Guinea netball, basketball and softball player turned Hall of Famer Veitu Diro CBE; MBE will be the official guest speaker of this year’s SP Sports Awards.

This announcement was made by SP Brewery Corporate Affairs Manager John Nilkare today ahead of the 33^rd edition of the awards night on June 14 at the Crown Hotel, Port Moresby.

“Veitu is a South Pacific Games gold-medalist, representing the country in six South Pacific Games and three Pacific Mini Games. She was also a core member of Commonwealth Games General Management team, and we are thrilled to have her over for the awards night on June 14^th.”

 “We have arranged a coaching clinic at the Taurama Aquatic Centre with the Team PNG Basketball and Beach Volleyball athletes to inspire our young players before they depart to Palau in June for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.”

“Veitu was a dominant force on the court as an athlete and coach, and she is honored to engage with our athletes,” Nilkare added.

The legendary sports icon was also inducted into the PNG Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 for her contributions of which she has represented Papua New Guinea in:

• The inaugural PNG National Basketball 1967 in Townsville, Australia

• South Pacific Games in Port Moresby in 1969

• South Pacific Games in Tahiti in 1971 where she won her first gold medal in basketball

• World Netball Series in 1975 New Zealand

• South Pacific Games 1979 in Fiji

• Pacific Mini Games in 1981 in Guam

Veitu’s coaching expertise was pivotal in the PNG Netball Team (Pepes) securing silver medals at the South Pacific Games in Guam in 1991 and the 2001 Pacific Mini Games in Norfolk Island.

In addition, Veitu led the PNG Women’s Basketball team to silver medals at the 2005 Mini Pacific Games in Palau, and bronze at the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa.

Her contributions to the development of sports in Papua New Guinea have been significant.

In 1972, she began her career as a sports administrator and was elected President of the PNG Netball Federation, a position she diligently held for 11 years.

She was also elected as the First Female Vice President on the Papua New Guinea Sports Federation Board in 1974 (now the PNG Olympic Committee), serving an impressive 32 years. Her tenure marks her as one of the longest-serving executives in the organization’s history. From 2000 to 2008, Veitu also served as the Chairperson of the PNG Women in Sports Committee.

Her involvement in national netball selections spanned over 30 years.

Off the court, the 78-year-old remains a passionate advocate for women in sports, dedicating her time to mentoring aspiring athletes and championing equality in sports.