A Pacific fairy tale

“We are going to do just like others do for the Olympics, 12 hours a day, live sports coverage.” Some might say those were big words from the Pacific Games head of coverage. Yet, somehow, that is what happened…and much more.

Long after the closing ceremony, one of the most remarkable performances of the entire 2015 Pacific Games won a medal. The Niugini Broadcast Corporation (NBC) just claimed Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) most prestigious sports media honour, the SP Outstanding Media Coverage of Sport Award 2016.

The beginning
I'd just completed a master’s degree focusing on development sports commentary and established an indigenous broadcast of the Tiwi Islands Football League. But this was on an unprecedented scale: for me, NBC and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Twenty-four countries, 30 sports, the biggest event in this developing nation’s history and relatively bigger than London hosting the Olympics. The games were to unite a nation that often identifies along tribal or provincial lines.

As the national broadcaster, NBC took its role very seriously. “We’re going to do just like others do for the Olympics: 12 hours a day, live” said NBC Sports Executive Stan Ivahupa confidently. NBC had sparse resources and a tiny team. This was way beyond existing capacity. So they did something astonishing and brave, recruiting devoted and talented broadcasters from across Papua New Guinea: Manus Island to Milne Bay, East New Britain to the Highlands. We took wise veterans with vast experience and teamed them up with the rookies. Some hadn’t even seen certain sports, much less covered them live.

Importantly, there were lots of women. Every member of the NBC team was empowered and driven to provide radio coverage to a nation where TVs are uncommon and radio is king. We trained like we were chasing gold. We used my training system to create commentary teams, study rules and learn terminology. We practiced interviewing. We called sports with the sound down, experimenting with different callers. We honestly analysed strengths and weaknesses, adjusted, and did it all over again and again.

When we assembled at the opening ceremony, we were ready. We had transformed into a world-class team. At the last second, a deal was done to broadcast to the entire Pacific and, for the next two weeks; history was made almost every minute. Sports were covered for the very first time in PNG, with commentary teams made up entirely of provincial broadcasters, all-female commentary teams and rookies calling gold medal victories. PNG surprised everyone (perhaps even itself) with a flawless Pacific Games, the best in history. NBC delivered the all-time greatest games coverage. Nothing had ever prompted more positive feedback.

In true PNG style, it was always eventful. Car accidents, a million technical issues and some tense meetings. At least one guy just walked out. But for 15 memorable days all across the Pacific, people were sitting around fires, in school halls and tending gardens hanging on NBC’s every word. Truly, a gold medal performance.

Authors note: The programme above was part of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Media Development Initiative.