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White wants early tally of NMI delegation to Vanuatu
Beach volleyball is among the 12 sports that will be played in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu. (Jon Perez)
Northern Marianas Sports Association president Mike White is requesting six federations to inform him if they will be sending teams to the 2017 Pacific Mini Games that will be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
White, in an email sent out to all NMSA member federations, said that athletics, beach volleyball, football (soccer), golf, tennis, and weightlifting are the sports to be contested in the 10th edition of the scaled down version of the Pacific Games.
“I am asking each of these federations to tell me whether they intend to send a team, and if so, I need to know the number of [male and female] athletes, coaches, and officials,” he said.
White added that submitting names is not binding and won’t cause any fine for the CNMI if ever they decided to pull out or don’t show up.
“This is not the binding submission, which results in a fine if we don’t show up. This is only to help the organizing committee determine whether there are enough countries to stage a particular sport.”
“And to [also] estimate how many people will be coming to the Games. So please give me your best guesses at this point,” added White, who is hoping to hear from the said sports federations no later than Dec. 31.
White is hoping Team CNMI will have a better showing in the Mini Games after failing to win any medal in this year’s 15th Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Meanwhile, the organizing committee of the Vanuatu Mini Games has also moved the dates of the quadrennial sporting event to Dec. 2 to 14 from the summer of 2017 since repairs and other improvements on the venues damaged by Cyclone Pam are facing delays.
Cyclone Pam packed 300kph (186mph) winds and slammed into Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila and other nearby islands in March this year, flattening houses and damaging 90 percent of the buildings in the affected areas.
The Pacific Games Council awarded the hosting rights to Vanuatu during its annual general assembly in Noumea, New Caledonia on Sept. 4, 2011. This will 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 in the 2017 competition.
