Mini Games deadline by numbers announced

Northern Marianas Sports Association reminded local sports federations of the deadline for submission of entries by numbers in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games.

NMSA president Michael White, during the group’s meeting early this month, said interested NMSA-member federations must turn in their entries by numbers either by end of November this year or first week of December.

Twelve sports are lined up for next year’s Mini Games, which Vanuatu will be hosting from Dec. 2 to 14. The list includes athletics, golf, beach volleyball, football (soccer), tennis, weightlifting, rugby, archery boxing, cricket, judo, karate, and netball. Early this year, only athletics and golf have expressed interest in sending athletes to the quadrennial meet, but in NMSA’s July meeting, the two groups and other federations have yet to decide whether to compete or not in the 10th edition of the event.

White reminded federations that once they confirmed to send athletes/teams to Vanuatu, they must honor their commitment as groups that will back out the last minute will be fined.

Meanwhile, the NMSA head also informed sports officials about two more competitions where the CNMI is invited to join.

The first one is the 2017 World University Games that will be held in Taipei from Aug. 19 to 30.

Twenty-two sports are scheduled in the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire-sanctioned competition, which is open for student-athletes in the 17 to 28 age group. Participants must be enrolled in a college or university or at least have taken one 3-credit course towards a degree or diploma within the last year before the Games. Incoming freshman may also be eligible.

White said in the past, the CNMI are allowed to send two athletes and a coach to the World University Games and airfare and accommodations are shouldered by the organizers.

Besides the FISU event, the Commonwealth is also invited to the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games that will be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan from Sept. 15 to 24. There are 21 sports lined up in the Asian Indoor, including chess, futsal, tennis, Muay Thai, sambo, kurash, jiu itsu, bowling, cycling (track), swimming, indoor athletics, weightlifting (powerlifting), basketball, taekwondo, dance sport, kickboxing, belt wrestling, wrestling (FS/Greco Roman), and billiards and snooker.