Pacific Mini Games organizing committee formed

The CNMI’s hosting of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games gets into full swing with the formation of the oversight committee that will manage Saipan’s preparations for the quadrennial sporting event.

Age has caught up with the Oleai track oval as it has deteriorated through the years and is now in need of resurfacing. The Northern Marianas Sports Association is hoping to get the track facility fixed next year in preparation for the 2021 Pacific Mini Games. (Jon Perez)

The oversight committee is composed of three board members of the Northern Marianas Sports Association, while four were appointed by Gov. Eloy S. Inos, and one from the Pacific Games Council.

Northern Marianas Sports Association president Mike White, vice president Kurt Barnes, and secretary Rose Igitol are from the CNMI sports sector, while PGC president Vidhya Lakhan represents the council.

Businessman Jerry Tan, Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada, Merced Tomokane, and Virginia Villagomez are the appointees by the governor.

White said the oversight committee’s first order of business is to meet and elect a chairman.

“I will be calling the initial meeting of the committee. Among the first items of business is the election of a chair,” said White.

White added their biggest concern right now is the track and field oval of the Oleai Sports Complex, the athletes’ village, and additional shower rooms for the more than 1,000 expected athletes, coaches, and officials that will arrive for the Mini Games.

The Oleai track facility is due for resurfacing after bubbles and black patches have already formed on the rubber surface. The hammer throw area at the far right of the field also needs to be replaced after Typhoon Soudelor damaged it.

Saipan has most of the sports facilities in place but it needs to be repaired after Soudelor tore through the islands last August. All sports events at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium are currently postponed.

White said the Federal Emergency Management Agency had already inspected the Ada Gym and other facilities inside the Oleai Sports Complex to assess the cost of repairs.

Inos’ press secretary Ivan Blanco, in an earlier interview, said that the venues to be used for competition must be improved and renovated to be at par with the Mini Games’ standards.

Northern Mariana Islands Football Association secretary general Ross Zapanta, meanwhile, said that they would like to look for a sponsor to finance the repairs of the broken lights of the football field.

White advised Zapanta to get in touch with either Barnes or NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi for further discussions on the matter.

The Oleai Sports Complex, where the baseball and softball fields are also located, will be the main hub of the Mini Games.

The Marianas High School Gymnasium, TSL Sports Complex, the American Memorial Park tennis courts, and the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool are some of the venues that are considered to host various events for the Mini Games.

Athletics, badminton, baseball, canoe, golf, sailing, swimming, tennis, triathlon, volleyball (beach and indoor), weightlifting, and wrestling are the 12 proposed sports to be played in the 2021 Games.

Saipan was the unanimous choice to host the 11th edition of the Mini Games, a scaled- down version of the Pacific Games, after narrowly losing to Vanuatu in the bid to organize the 2017 edition.

The Pacific Games Council approved Saipan’s bid to host the Mini Games in last year’s General Assembly in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The Mini Games started in 1981 to give the smaller nations the chance to host a multi-sport event under the PGC.