Papua New Guinea swimming sensation Ryan Pini commended the International Olympic Committee for introducing the new Athletes After Sports Programme.

This programme will allow athletes to do courses after they retire from sports to assist them in their career.

Pini is the representative of the Oceania Athletes Commission during the Olympic Solidarity Forum held in the past two days in Nadi.

“It’s great news as we draw closer to the end of our sporting career,”Pini said.

“Being able to do courses to help in our occupation is great, there is a great opportunities to it.

“What the IOC is trying to do is to allow athletes transitioning out of sports to take up something which can have a lot of progress in their life, this is interesting.”

The 35-year old who has yet to retire from swimming, advices young Pacific athletes to be dedicated and committed.

“Having the right attitude and dedication is crucial now that my sporting life is coming to an end. I look back and I saw it’s very hard to get myself to where I was 10 years ago.

“10 years ago what I always do is improve myself every single time and you need to have passion towards the sports. Always push yourselves.”

Pini is a four –times Olympic swimmer for PNG. He swam for PNG at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics; he was also PNG flag bearer in 2008 and 2016. He is the first PNG swimmer ever to reach an Olympic final.