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MVA in planning stage for Saipan Tropical Relay
The Marianas Visitors Authority is in the initial stages of planning for a new relay-style event that is popular among families in Japan, according to MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas.
Called the Saipan Tropical Ekiden 2015, the relay-style event is planned for this August in Garapan. MVA’s Japan ad-hoc committee recommended the event after finding out that it is very popular in Japan, especially for families, as a form of “fun run.”
MVA board members approved in March a budget of up to $50,000 for the Ekiden running event. However, MVA didn’t approve the original date of the event as March is peak season for the islands’ tourism industry.
Last Thursday, the board moved for the event’s staging to August.
Duenas said they are still in the early planning stages so there may be several changes as they move forward.
Duenas said that MVA will be the main organizer, while the Japan-Saipan Cultural Exchange Association will serve as co-organizer.
There will be two types of courses: a town course and a seaside course. For the first half of the race, the runners will run through Garapan. After sunset, the course will then shift to the beach.
For the adult division, each team will continue running around a 2-km course from 4pm to 8pm. MVA will give awards to the five teams that complete the most laps.
The maximum capacity for the course is 100 teams. Teams can consist of members of two to 10 people. Children who participate in this category must be in the same team as their parents.
For the composite division, each team will run around a 2-km course from 4pm to 8pm. Capacity is 100 teams as well and entry conditions apply to those 18 and over; however, high school students will not be allowed to join this division.
There will also be a family run from 5:30pm to 6pm. Children and their parents can join this run for a family experience.
There are fees and conditions that participants need to pay and follow in order to join the race.
