The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee is mourning the death of The Honourable Justice Catherine Anne Davani ©PNGOC

The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) have paid tribute to the Honourable Justice Catherine Anne Davani for her "immense" contribution to sport following her death.

Davani held office as the vice president of the Papua New Guinea Football Association from 1993 to 1995, and was a board member of the Papua New Guinea Sports Commission from 1995 to 1996.

During her career she also held a position on the board of the Papua New Guinea Sports Federation from 1993 to 2001.

She was a founding member of the Papua New Guinea Sports Disputes Tribunal and, at the time of her death, was serving as chair.

In her time as an athlete she represented her country at no less than three Oceania Football Confederation World Cup qualifiers, captaining her country at both the 1994 and 1998 tournaments.

Justice Catherine Anne Davani was her country's representative at the Court of Arbitration for Sport ©PNGOC
Justice Catherine Anne Davani was her country's representative at the Court of Arbitration for Sport ©PNGOC

She was able to combine her passion for sport and law when, in 2001, she became the first Papua New Guinean to be appointed to the Chamber of International Arbitration for Football.

The chamber would later merge with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where she served as her country's representative until her death.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband John, her sons Reginald, Peter, Cecil and Alexander, and her family and relatives at this most difficult of times," read a statement by PNGOC.

"We stand together with them in prayer.

"Team PNG salutes Justice Davani for being an outstanding Papua New Guinean both on and off the sports field.

"Her contributions to sport were as varied as they were immense, and spanned a period just shy of four decades."