Tony Green (Papua New Guinea) Awarded the World Athletics Plaque of Merit

The World Athletics Plaque of Merit is awarded for meritorious services to World Athletics. The Plaque is awarded to one person from each of the six (6) continental areas at each World Athletics Congress.

Anthony Green, widely known as Tony Green, has been a cornerstone of athletics in Papua New Guinea for decades. His enduring commitment to the sport is most evident in his role as President of Athletics Papua New Guinea (APNG), a position he has held since at least 2009. Under Tony’s steadfast leadership, APNG has diligently worked to expand and promote athletics throughout the nation. His efforts have been instrumental in nurturing and developing local talent while ensuring that Papua New Guinea remains a dominant force in athletics among Pacific Island nations.

Once Tony took over as the President of APNG, he worked tirelessly to encourage PNG’s participation in distance events and cross-country competitions organised by the IAAF (World Athletics). He managed the teams to the World Cross Country Championships in Stellenbosch (1996), Marrakech (1998), World Road Relay in Manaus (1998), road races in Florida (1998). In that year, the PNG distance runners competed on every continent except Antarctica!

In 1993 Tony was the PNG delegate to the IAAF (World Athletics) Congress in Stuttgart, Germany, and took a small group of PNG athletes who competed in warm-up meets in the UK and Germany. In 1999 Tony organised a track and field team to participate in the Thailand National Championships in Bangkok. He was the Athletics Team Manager for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. The following year he was team manager to the World Championships in Edmonton, and then again in 2003 in the Paris World Championships. He was team manager of the PNG Team to the Olympic Games in Athens.

In 2011 he was Congress Delegate and team manager for the small PNG team to the World Championships in Daegu. He has continued to be the PNG delegate to the IAAF/World Athletics Congress meetings to the present day.

In addition to his pivotal role at APNG, Tony is an active and influential member of the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC), where he serves as the Senior Vice President. In this capacity, he has been vocal about the need for improved governance and greater cooperation between the PNG Sports Foundation and the PNG Olympic Committee. His advocacy aims to create a more cohesive and effective system to enhance the support and development of sports across the country.

Despite facing obstacles such as limited government support and resources, Tony has remained unwavering in his commitment to athletics. His leadership has significantly contributed to the achievements of Papua New Guinea’s athletes at major sporting events, including the Pacific Games, where they have consistently performed with distinction. His vision and dedication continue to have a profound impact on the growth and success of the sport across the region.

Throughout his career, Tony has also contributed to athletics governance beyond Papua New Guinea. He has served on the OAA Council during two separate terms, where his strategic insights and leadership have made invaluable contributions to the regional athletics community.

Tony’s dedication to the sport has been widely recognised over the years. He received the OAA Merit Award in 2003 and was honoured with the prestigious World Athletics Veteran Pin in 2009, a testament to his exceptional service and commitment to athletics.

As a driving force behind the continued advancement of athletics in Papua New Guinea, Tony’s influence has left an indelible mark on the sport.

OAA Congratulates Tony Green for his esteemed World Athletics Plaque of Merit, acknowledging his lifelong dedication, outstanding leadership, and extraordinary contributions to the development of athletics both locally and internationally.