Basketball player Dia Muri addressing students at Kumin Primary School ©PNGOC

An Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) aimed up local schoolchildren has been hailed as a new way to appeal to young people after being organised by the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC).

Students at two primary schools in the Southern Highlands region of Mendi participated in a programme which facilitated "more powerful interactions" with leading athletes.

Those included included Pacific Games basketball players Dia Muri and Betty Angula as well as karateka Andrew Molen.

The programme focused on two main elements: "Why values are important" and "Understanding the Olympic values".

Swimmer Ryan Pini carries the Papua New Guinea flag at the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Swimmer Ryan Pini carries the Papua New Guinea flag at the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

A special basketball drills session led by Muri and Angula has also taken place.

“The OVEP programme provides educational awareness on the important Olympic Values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship and how our own PNG athletes and other athletes around the world use this to better themselves in their sporting career and in their personal lives as well,” said the PNGOC programme coordinator, Shareena Tanabi.

“These are very important values for us and we are glad that we can share that with the students and athletes in Mendi this time."