Torres suggests creating special account for athletes representing NMI worldwide

Torres

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres suggests that lawmakers look into assisting athletes who represent the CNMI at the highest level by creating a special account for them.

During a press briefing Friday about some CNMI athletes winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships, Torres congratulated them for representing the CNMI at the highest level of sports competition.

“To everyone, regardless of what place you place when you wave our flag, leaving CNMI to represent, you are our best. And I want to thank you, your family, your coaches, who put sweat and love into the sport,” he said.

The CNMI’s athletes at the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships in Mackay, Australia—Orrin Pharmin, Tania Tan, and Tiana Cabrera—were medalists at the competition.

Pharmin won a gold medal after winning the masters high jump. He also got a gold medal in the 110m hurdles, bronze in the javelin, and silver in the shotput, 60m, 100m, 200m, and 400m.

Tan was the first to give the CNMI its first gold in the 10-kilometer run. She also settled for a silver in the 5,000m run.

Cabrera won a bronze medal in the U18 3,000m run.

To those who are able to win gold, silver, and bronze medals, the governor urged them to continue to push because they have a special talent and that the CNMI should be part of their journey.

“We should start looking into their success and giving them the opportunity. If they go to college, let’s push for that,” he said.

Torres said the CNMI should have a special sports scholarship to let these outstanding athletes go around the world and represent the CNMI.

Hopefully, when these outstanding athletes reach that professional level, if they come back they will start teaching the children of the next generation, he said.

“I always believe that our folks here have the talent and have the heart…to compete around the world,” he said.

Torres said the CNMI should showcase this kind of talent not just in the Pacific but around the world.

He said they are seeing scholarships around the nation being given to CNMI soccer players so they could represent different states. “I hope the Legislature is listening and maybe we should start looking at promoting and putting a special account for our athletes who go out there and represent CNMI at the highest level,” the governor said.