There have been numerous off-field benefits for Papua New Guinea as a result of hosting the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, but the medical legacy programme is among the most important.

FIFA has provided USD $250,000 of financial support to the Papua New Guinea 2016 Local Organising Committee for the provision of medical services and additional medical equipment throughout the tournament.

In practical terms, that has meant an increased the level of preparation, equipment for the touchline medical teams, as well as the medical points for the VIP’s and in the player’s medical rooms throughout the tournament.

Other than equipment, FIFA financial support has also paid for ambulance services, hospital services, and the renovation of the Emergency Department of the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Crucially, the equipment available during the tournament will then be distributed to the regional football associations, and public hospitals, some of which are reachable only by plane or boat. This will help improve the medical care of football players, in particular the management of emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest, and thus will provide a lasting and tangible legacy in the medical field for Papua New Guinea.

“This life-saving equipment will have a resounding effect on communities across the nation, and I am so pleased that football and this tournament will be leaving a lasting impression in Papua New Guinea," said David Chung, President of the Papua New Guinea Football Association.