Papua New Guinea authorities are using more than 500 personnel to provide security for the PNG Games which started in Lae today.
The Metropolitan Superintendent Iven Lakatani says local police will be assisted by about 30 officers from outside the city, 17 Australian Federal Police and more than 100 soldiers from the PNG Defence Force.
More than 9,000 athletes from around the country have converged on the city for the biennial games.
Mr Lakatani says he has learnt from past events which were affected by petty crime and robberies.
"Now we are trying to make sure that all those issues are not repeated, making sure that there are policemen at the bus-stops, at the venues, in the street, so we are seen to be around all the venues."
Mr Lakatani says the operation will also focus on securing the Highlands Highway during the games which end on November 29th.
