Federations reminded about deadline for 2015 Pacific Games

Northern Marianas Sports Association president Michael White is reminding its members to comply with the deadline for submission of entries to the 2015 Pacific Games.

“We have to submit the entry by names later this year,” said White, who is trying to find the cheapest way for the entire Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ delegation to go to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Tura, the official mascot of the 2015 Pacific Games, visits students in Vanimo in Papua New Guinea to promote next year’s competition. (Pacific Games Photo)

Team CNMI plans to leave for the Pacific Games on July 1 from Guam to Manila and take a connecting flight to Port Moresby. CNMI athletes and officials hope to return to Saipan on July 18 after the closing ceremonies of the Pacific Games. The quadrennial competition will run from July 4 to 18.

Basketball, beach soccer, beach volleyball, bodybuilding, boxing, cricket, football, golf, hockey, karate, lawn bowls, powerflifting, rugby 7s, rugby league, shooting, squash, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, touch rugby, triathlon, va’a, volleyball, weightlifting, and the medal rich sports of athletics and swimming are included on the list of sports to be played in the 15th edition of the quadrennial event.

The CNMI will be competing in athletics, beach volleyball, golf, lawn tennis, and triathlon.

White added that sports federations, which will be sending athletes to the Pacific Games or any off-island tournaments, should hold an open tryout to determine the representatives of the CNMI to these competitions.

“This should take place by the end of the year and should be open to everybody, be it in individual or team sports.”

Meanwhile, White is also waiting for the local sports associations to submit their respective four-year developmental plan for their grassroots programs.

“It’s just a brief summary of what direction each federation is going. Hopefully, I received all of it by the end of the year,” the NMSA head said.

In other news, NMSA is s looking at sending athletes to the 2015 Pacific School Games (PSG) to be hosted by the South Australian city of Adelaide from November 21 to 29. Students with disabilities are also welcome to join.

The PSG, according to its website, has strong ties with the Paralympics Committee, Deaf Sports Australia and AusRapid and focuses on including sports where students with disabilities can freely participate. The event is open to students in the 10 to 19 age group and holds competitions in baseball, basketball, diving, football, goalball, softball, swimming, table tennis, and touch football. (Jon Perez)