White confident Vanuatu will recover

Northern Marianas Sports Association Michael A. White said that organizers of the 10th Vanuatu Pacific Mini Games could pull off in hosting the quadrennial event despite the recent damage brought by Cyclone Pam.

White

“NMSA is optimistic that Vanuatu can and will recover from the damage caused by the storm. They can stage a great Pacific Mini Games in 2017,” said White, who also sympathized with the people of Vanuatu.

The CNMI has sports federations in six of the 14 sports that Vanuatu is going to offer namely, athletics, beach volleyball, football, golf, table tennis, and weightlifting. Table tennis and weightlifting, however, are inactive.

“The CNMI anticipates sending a strong team to the Games,” added White.

Radio New Zealand reported that demolition of the stadium in Port Vila would be delayed after Cyclone Pam caused major damage to most of the venues that will be used for the 2017 Mini Games.

Games chief executive officer Joe Bomal Carlo said they would meet with the government on what decisions to be made after Cyclone Pam’s aftermath saw much destruction in the capital.

“The government will have to come back to the drawing board and decide from then on whether we move ahead with this or what decision needs to be made within the hierarchy of the government at the top,” said Carlo.

He added that the impact of the storm, which tore through Port Vila and other nearby islands, “is absolutely devastating” and the financial impact would “also be significant.”

The Korman Stadium was supposed to be demolished this week in order for the Chinese construction team to start building the new sports complex.

“But we won’t fully know until we speak with the government. Now I’m not sure where we’re going from here. It’s not very positive and we will see how it all turns out when all this clean up is all done with,” said Carlo.

“It’s going to be behind time so it’s touch and go from here on because work has taken place early in the year but we’ve been working with the aid donors with the Chinese government.”

He added that he could not guarantee the Games venues would be completed as scheduled after the Chinese team made an inspection in Port Vila two months ago to discuss with Games organizers the designs and other venues that will be built.

“We are waiting to get the place cleared for the work to begin as soon as possible because it’s quite a major task ahead of us.”

Cyclone Pam packed 300kph (186mph) winds and slammed into Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila and other nearby islands early Saturday morning flattening houses and causing damage to 90 percent of the buildings.

Initial reports say that at least 24 people are confirmed dead while thousands are displaced after the Category 5 hurricane flattened houses in villages.

The Pacific Games Council awarded the hosting rights to Vanuatu during their annual General Assembly in Noumea, New Caledonia on Sept. 4, 2011. This would be the first time since 1993 that Vanuatu is hosting the Games.

Rugby, archery boxing, cricket, judo, karate, and netball are the other sports to be played.