Ryan Pini, pictured, competed at four Olympic Games for Papua New Guinea ©Getty Images

The Australian High Commission has announced a new partnership with the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) that will provide funding for the nation's athletes ahead of their bids to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The institution is a diplomatic branch of the Australian Government and made the relationship official as part of Olympic Day.

Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, Jon Philp, announced the agreement alongside PNGOC secretary general Auvita Rapilla.

This was made just before Papua New Guinea athletes Ryan Pini and Dika Toua lead an Olympic Day workout session at Ela Beach in the capital city of Port Moresby, as part of the International Olympic Committee's 24-hour digital campaign featuring Olympians from around the world.

The AUS$250,000 (£139,000/$172,000/€153,000) grant will assist the PNGOC to provide access to training camps in Papua New Guinea and Australia that have high-level facilities.

It will also give coaches in Papua New Guinea the opportunity to develop skills through Australian experts as well as work on its capacity of sports scientists.

PNGOC are expected to give athletes financial support too for those who are training to qualify to achieve an Olympic standard ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games, which are now due to take place from July 23 to August 8 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.