The Papua New Guinea National Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has been named the winner of the inaugural International Olympic Academy (IOA) Award in the “Community Engagement and Social Impact Educational Programmes” category, announced at a ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece, on May 21st, 2026.

The award was presented during the 19th International Session for National Olympic Academies and National Olympic Committees, which was attended by delegates from more than 100 countries.

PNGOC was one of five national organizations recognized across various categories covering Olympic education, athlete development, cultural legacy, and sustainability.

According to Secretary General Desmond Kaviagu, this recognition belongs to every Papua New Guinean who has participated in the programs and supported the mission to bring Olympic values to life in communities across the country.

“A huge acknowledgement is accorded to our Team PNG HERO Athletes and Programs team who deliver the programs annually throughout the country.”

“It confirms that what we are building- a movement powered by purpose- and this is being noticed on the world stage.”

The IOA Awards were inaugurated in 2026 as a new institution to highlight successful Olympic education projects, reward quality, and share good practices across the global National Olympic Academies (NOA) and National Olympic Committee (NOC) networks.

The entries were judged by a nine-member international committee chaired by Alexandra Karaiskou, Head of NOC/NOA Relations at the IOA.

As a result of this win, the recognized initiative will be featured in the IOA Journal and the Academy’s international communication platforms, providing global visibility for Papua New Guinea’s work in Olympic education.

Furthermore, the award closely aligns with “PNGOC's 2032- Powered by Purpose!” strategic plan, in particular pillar two on delivery, which identifies community engagement and social impact as core pillars of the Committee's mission leading into the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.