Council still looking for Micro Games host

The Micronesian Games Council is still searching for a host for the 2006 Micronesian Games.

This according to MGC president Bill Keldermens, who said in an email to the Saipan Tribune that confirmation on who will host the Games has yet to be received and that the MGC is still looking forward to having the Games this year.

“We are still looking for a host,” Keldermens said. “We still want to hold the Games this year. When we finalize something we will let you and the rest of the press know,” he added while confirming that the MGC has not scrapped the 2006 Games.

Keldermens’ assurance that the council has not yet cancelled the Games comes after athletes and officials asked the Fitial administration last Friday to reconsider hosting the quadrennial event, which was granted to the CNMI last September.

Earlier, Palau National Olympic Committee secretary general Baklai Temengil said that the PNOC has already met regarding the hosting of the Games. However, he said they have not made a commitment about the its hosting yet.

She said although Palau’s sports facilities are ready to host the various sports because the country is just coming off hosting the South Pacific Mini Games last year, a lot of work still needs to be done in terms of attracting government support, community support, and financial support from sponsors given the limited time to prepare.

All is not lost though as Friday’s rally resulted in Gov. Benigno R. Fitial allowing individuals pushing for the Games’ hosting to draft a financial plan, which will be presented to him this Friday.

Fitial, however, indicated that since Palau has showed interest in hosting the Games, the possibility for CNMI to hosting it is subject to any decision Palau makes.

With the hosting of the Games still a possibility, officials from various federations will meet today to discuss various critical issues that need to be attended to.

Two Fridays ago, the government announced its decision to decline the hosting of the Games, citing poor leadership in preparations for the hosting, as well as the struggling economy.

The Micro Games were first awarded to Yap. However, destructive typhoons caused damage to various sports facilities, resulting in the MGC deciding to award the Games to another country.

The decision was announced during last year’s Mini Games, and the CNMI jumped at the opportunity to host the Games.

The Micro Games is scheduled to take place from June 23 to July 7 with 1,500 to 1,700 athletes and officials expected.