‘Games executive order to be signed soon’

The executive order that would create the 2006 Micronesian Games executive committee is expected to be signed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta anytime soon.

This is according to Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta, who said yesterday that the governor may sign the order creating the executive committee for the Games “anytime now.”

“The governor’s legal counsel Steve Newman is finalizing the executive order and once that’s done, the governor will sign it,” Babauta said. “This will happen very soon.”

Babauta had earlier said that the order could be signed as early as today, however, he was not in a position to confirm it yesterday.

The executive order consists of the names of various individuals who will make up the executive committee. An advisory committee will also be created and will consist of representatives of various government agencies.

A presentation conducted by Sec. Babauta and Division of Sports and Recreation director Tony Rogolifoi to the Legislature indicated that the committee would consist of an executive director; chairman and vice chairman for the Games; chairman of the Sports Committee, with sub committees for each sport; chairman for accommodations, food, and transportation; chair for finance, fundraising, and marketing; and chair for protocol and foreign affairs logistics, sports facilities, repair and maintenance; public relations and media; ceremonies—opening and closing—medals, and entertainment, security; medical services; and volunteers.

The Micro Games will be held on Saipan from June 23 to July 7 next year. About 1,500 to 1,700 athletes, coaches, and officials from around the Micronesian region are expected to take part in the quadrennial event.

The event was last held on Saipan in 1990. The state of Yap originally won the bid to host next year’s Games, however, its facilities were devastated by typhoons over the past years, resulting in the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee awarding the Games to the CNMI.

Among the sports proposed to be featured during the Games are athletics, basketball, baseball for men, beach volleyball, golf, softball, slow pitch softball, spear fishing, sailing, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, outrigger canoeing, volleyball, wrestling for men, weightlifting, and Micronesian all around.