MVA wants to capitalize on 2020 Olympics

Tenorio

The Marianas Visitors Authority is looking to capitalize on the 2020 Summer Olympic Games as it hopes to attract international athletes and teams to train on Saipan.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio, in an exclusive interview by the Saipan Tribune, said what needs to be done first is to make sure all sports facilities are up to international standards.

“It would be nice if athletes who will be competing in the Olympics, especially those who are from Europe, to train and acclimatize themselves here on Saipan,” said Tenorio, who attended Monday night’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multipurpose Center.

Tokyo, Japan will host the 22nd edition of the quadrennial Games from July 4 to Aug. 9, 2020, with the National Olympic Statidum the venue of the opening and closing ceremonies.

“It would be interesting and nice to see these Olympic athletes train here on Saipan before going to Tokyo for the Summer Games,” added Tenorio.

In 2002, the Republic of Ireland national men’s football team trained on Saipan before the 2002 World Cup that was co-hosted by Korea and Japan.

Three-time Olympian Olivier Marceau, who previously represented Switzerland but is now part of the French national triathlon team, is also a permanent fixture in the XTERRA Saipan and Tagaman triathlon events.

Korean Baseball League team LG Twins has also previously made Saipan their training ground if it’s still winter in Seoul.

Tenorio said Japan Olympics in 2020 would be build up for the Pacific Mini Games, which Saipan would be hosting for the first time in the summer of 2021.

“Of course it would all lead to the 2021 Mini Games. That’s why we need to renovate and improve all sports facilities damaged by several typhoons,” added Tenorio, who was part of the committee that presented Saipan’s bid to the Pacific Games Council a few years ago.

“The MVA is fully supporting Saipan’s hosting of the 2021 Mini Games. It would be a big project that needs the partnership of various government agencies and the private sector,” he added.

Repairs and other improvement that needs to be done for all the sports facilities inside the Oleai Sports Complex is expected to start early next year.

The Northern Marianas Sports Association, which is now in charge of maintaining the Oleai Sports Complex, is waiting for the money given by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be released.

The FEMA grant is coursed through the Governor’s Office since the Oleai Sports Complex is built on public land.