Athletes get over $500K in incentives

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, middle, is seen handing out an envelope of the athletes’ incentives to badminton’s Janelle Pangilinan during the Team NMI Celebration Dinner last Thursday at Kensington Resort. (LEIGH GASES)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres distributed over $500,000 in incentives to athletes who represented the CNMI not only in the just concluded Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022, but three other sporting events this year during a banquet honoring Team NMI athletes last Thursday at Kensington Resort.

Prior to handing out the incentives during the Team NMI Celebration Dinner, Torres said “it’s such an emotional evening…Everyone’s having a good time. Congratulations to all of you. It’s a great honor to be here… All of you really make the NMI proud.”

He then congratulated the CNMI National Baseball Team for winning the opening of the Mini Games and for closing it with the gold, which was of course greeted with cheers from the already hyped baseball players.

To all the athletes he said, “to all of you, look around your table. You guys are who we have the best of who represents CNMI. Congratulations. We love you.”

To the delight of the athletes and coaches, Torres announced that the CNMI will be chartering a flight to the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Games next year, which was obviously met by rounds of applause and cheers.

Northern Marianas Sports Association president Jerry Tan then gave a heart-felt speech which reciprocated Torres’ and after everyone at the banquet filled their bellies, it was time to fill up their pockets.

NMSA called up Torres, first lady Diann Torres, NMSA board members Tan, Nick Gross, Valerie Hofschneider, and James Lee to congratulate and hand out the envelopes filled with the athletes’ incentives.

Two weeks prior to the start of the Mini Games, Torres announced the incentives for each medalist— $5,000 plus $1,000 from his office for gold medalists, $2,500 for silver medalists, and $1,000 for bronze medalists.

In the banquet, each athlete of all nine sports from baseball, badminton, golf, va’a, beach volleyball, weightlifting, athletics, tennis, and triathlon were called up to receive their incentives of $6,000 for gold medalists, $3,500 for silver medalists, and $2,000 for bronze medalists, as the $1,000 bonus was extended to all medalists. Every name called out for each sport was greeted with cheers from the proud athletes and coaches in attendance.

On top of that, CNMI teams and athletes who reached the semifinals received $750 each. Athletes who did not place were not forgotten as they were given $500 each.

Coaches and team managers for all nine sports of the Mini Games received $3,000 each. For the Pacific Mini Games athletes and coaches, a total of $449,000 was given out.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, the funds for incentives were allocated from $4 million of the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, after it was given a green light by the U.S. Treasury that doing sports tourism in the Pacific Games is an allowable cost.

During the distribution of incentives for the baseball team, an additional award in the form of a golden bat and a free night’s stay at Kensington Resort was given to Frank Nakamura for hitting the only home run of the baseball competition between Guam, Fiji, Palau, and the Solomon Islands.

Following the distribution of incentives, 15-year-old NMI junior golfer and women’s gold medalist, Zhimin Jin, was announced as the “Best Junior Female Athlete” of the Games and received a trophy.

“Congratulations again for waving the CNMI flag,” remarked Torres after each athlete received their well-deserved incentive.

The emotional night was capped by speeches from Team NMI chef de mission, Bob Coldeen, and 2021 CNMI athlete of the year, Jason Tarkong.

A total of $50,450 were also distributed to the CNMI national men’s and women’s basketball team to the FIBA Micronesian Cup, swimmers who competed in the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, and track and field athletes who saw action in the Oceania Area Championships in Mackay, Australia.