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Babauta commits to Micro Games
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Posted on Aug 21 2005
The continued efforts of government leaders and the heads of various sporting organizations will apparently come to fruition today, as Gov. Juan N. Babauta said that he will sign a letter of intent for the CNMI to host the 2006 Micronesian Games.
While he was meeting with the CNMI swimmers, who accounted for 25 medals during the South Pacific Mini-Games in Palau, the governor recounted how Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White and Department of Community and Cultural Affair Secretary Juan L. Babauta approached him for support in their quest to bring the international competition to the Marianas.
“I was very excited when they came to see me last week and of course I am very supportive of it. The only concern I had was that it was going to cost us some money to kind of spruce the place up and make sure that we have all of the facilities up to par, I said ‘Why don’t you go to the Legislature—not for a commitment on the money—but just for an expression of support’ which they did. Now I have a letter on my desk which I will sign on Monday making some commitment to host the Micronesian games next year, so we’ll go out and do it.”
After the 1969 MicrOlympics, the regional competition failed to reappear in the region until Saipan hosted the 1990 Micronesian Games. The 2006 Games were originally scheduled to be hosted by Yap, but the local facilities have still not recovered from typhoons that devastated the island last year, leaving the door open for the CNMI.
By furnishing the letter of intent to the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee, the CNMI will move into the next phase of the planning stages by getting the exact figures it would take to get Saipan ready to host the nearly 2,000 athletes, coaches, and supporters.
