Move to save Mini Games

Whether these lanes at the Oleai Sports Complex track oval will be filled or not two years from now remains to be seen, as the Pacific Games Council is seeking a meeting with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to discuss the fate of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Pacific Games Council is seeking an audience with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres upon learning that the CNMI government has withdrawn its commitment to support Saipan’s hosting of the 2021 Pacific Mini Games.

“Yes, we have been notified by NMSA,” PGC chief executive officer Andrew Minogue said when asked if the unfortunate development has reached them.

Last March 13, Torres wrote to Northern Marianas Sports Association president Michael White, informing the latter that the government will not be able to back up NMSA for the hosting of the quadrennial meet, as the CNMI’s resources will be focused on recovery and rebuilding after the Commonwealth was hammered by Super Typhoon Yutu in October last year.

Torres’ decision came a few days before White flew to Fiji to attend the Oceania National Olympic Committee meeting and also brief the Pacific Games Council about the status of Saipan’s hosting of the Mini Games.

NMSA made no comment about the withdrawal and instead referred the decision to the Pacific Games Council, which in return has reached out to the governor.

“We have written to the governor, requesting a meeting early next week in order to look at ways to keep the Games in the CNMI, including by scaling them down, if necessary,” Minogue said.

Torres is currently off-island and will be back on Wednesday, according to press secretary Kevin Bautista,

Meanwhile, pending their meeting with the governor, Minogue did not elaborate further on the issue of scaling down the 2021 Mini Games, which in the CNMI’s initial bid in 2014 will offer 12 sports—athletics, badminton, golf, tennis, va’a (canoe racing), volleyball (indoor and beach), baseball, sailing, swimming, triathlon, weightlifting, and wrestling.

Local sports federations that will handle competitions in the calendar of events for the 2021 Mini Games declined to comment on the government’s withdrawal of support, as they wanted to wait for the outcome of the possible dialogue between the Pacific Games Council and Torres, along with the other stakeholders in the Games.

Torres made the tough call after damage assessments from the Category 5 storm revealed that recovery period will continue for three years, the least, and maybe even longer with the CNMI facing manpower and funding challenges in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu. The Mini Games, in the Commonwealth’s bid document, is scheduled in the summer of 2021 or a little over two years from now.