4-member team in bodybuilding eyed

From left, Aaron Tomokane, Ella Decena, Janeth Salboro, and Gerald Galang have been training under Commonwealth Bodybuilding Federation president John Davis to prepare for future tournaments. (Contributed Photo)

“I would like to take 10 but the thing is, with the Pacific Games less than nine months away, it will be hard for us. It will take us a lot of money to raise, that’s why I’m looking at sending at least four,” said Davis.

The 2015 Pacific Games will be held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from July 4 to 18 and bodybuilding is one of the 26 sports to be played in the quadrennial sporting event.

“I have to do more research on ticket prices so we would know how much money we need to raise. We need to raise funds. The faster we get things started, the better,” Davis said.

Davis said that the CBF will set a meeting after treasurer Aaron Tomokane returns from competing in Guam later this month.

“NMSA wants us to have a competition to select a team that would go to the Pacific Games. But the problem is bodybuilding is not like any other sport where you train for three months and you’re good to go. It takes years to reach a certain level for you to be in competition shape. I know a couple of guys who are in that level,” said Davis.

He added that the CBF could not just have a competition to select the members of Team CNMI so he is looking at suggesting some athletes who have been training for years and are veterans of several bodybuilding tournaments.

Davis also said the federation wants to have judges certified by the International Federation of Bodybuilders, the sport’s world governing body that offers courses to accredit individuals.

“Our vision is to also have that entire process of having [IFBB] certified and accredited judges here in the CNMI. If basketball and baseball had their referees and umpires take specific courses in order for them to get certified, then that’s what I also want do in the bodybuilding federation, get some individuals to become accredited judges,” Davis said.

Davis said they failed to do this in the past that’s why they are looking at organizing clinics that would certify interested individuals to become judges.

“Get some people accredited, certified, and recognized by various world organizations, that would mean that we could step up to the plate in the world stage. For example, we go to the Pacific Games, the CNMI won’t be represented because we don’t have anybody who is certified to be a judge. I want to change that,” the CBF head added.

Davis said that interested bodybuilders and individuals who want more information about CBF and its plans can email him at johnhdavisjr@gmail.com or call him at 7899211.

Davis decided to re-organize CBF after reading Northern Marianas Sports Association’s appeal on the newspaper to revive the sport along with wrestling, table tennis, weightlifting, and indoor volleyball. (Jon Perez)