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Minogue: NZ committed to Commonwealth Games
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Posted on Jun 01 2022
Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue, leftmost, during April’s press conference at the NMSA conference room following his and PGC president Vidya Lakhan’s visit to the CNMI. Second from left is Lakhan, while Northern Marianas Sports Association president Jerry Tan and Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter, right, look on. (MARK RABAGO)
Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue recently disclosed the reason why New Zealand isn’t sending a delegation to the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 and it’s not because they’re ceremonial haka dance might be upstaged by the CNMI’s stick dance.
“New Zealand is not coming in their three invited sports because they are committed to the Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom in July,” he told Saipan Tribune.
The sports Minogue was alluding to are athletics, weightlifting, and beach volleyball.
In contrast to the Kiwis, the Pacific Games Council CEO is happy that Oceania powerhouse Australia stuck with its commitment and will be sending a delegation to the 11th staging of the Mini Games that the CNMI will be hosting for the first time ever.
“We have very good support from Australia in athletics and weightlifting. The only invitation they did not take up was in beach volleyball,” he said.
In all, Australia will be sending 19 athletes to the Mini Games—14 for athletics and five for weightlifting.
In an interview last February, Minogue was still optimistic of New Zealand taking part in the 2022 Mini Games.
“For New Zealand, they will be communicating directly with the games organizing committee as they will be soon reaching out to the individual federations that will be attending. However, my understanding is they will be sending beach volleyball and weightlifting,” he earlier said.
Meanwhile, Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter said he’s saddened that New Zealand won’t be able to send its athletes to the CNMI for the Mini Games this month.
“I am disappointed that one of the biggest countries in the region isn’t able to participate. Shall we blame it on the pandemic?” he said.
Not to worry though as despite New Zealand skipping the Mini Games, Peter assured that some form of the haka, a ceremonial dance in Māori culture used to prepare warriors for war, will still be present in some form or another as island nations with heavy Māori influence like Wallis & Futuna, Tahiti, and Samoa have versions of the dance and might perform it during the Games.
