Fitial leaves for Noumea to press CNMI Mini Games bid

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will be leaving for New Caledonia today to lead the CNMI’s bid presentation for the 2017 Mini Games.

“As chief executive of the CNMI, Gov. Fitial will be delivering the opening remarks for the CNMI’s bid presentation,” press secretary Angel Demapan said in an email to Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Joining Fitial in New Caledonia are other members of the bid committee, including Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White. The governor is expected to arrive in New Caledonia tomorrow or three days before the 22 member-nations of the Pacific Games Association decide the host of the 2017 Mini Games.

“Given that the Pacific Mini Games has never been held in the CNMI, the Fitial administration is pleased to support this bid as we seek to further diversify our growing sports community in the Commonwealth. Moreover, with an expected crowd upwards of 2,000 people—to include players, coaches, families, fans, and international media representatives—the Games are expected to give our economy a much needed shot in the arm. It will also give us a chance to showcase the beauty of our islands, our people’s athletic prowess, and our warm island hospitality,” Demapan said.

Aside from the CNMI, two other countries are bidding for the hosting rights of the quadrennial event—Vanuatu and Nauru. Vanuatu is the Commonwealth’s closest rival as it had already hosted the Mini Games before, while Nauru is a long shot in the race, as it needs a lot of new facilities to host the competition.

Each nation will be given 30 minutes to present their bids during the morning session of the general assembly and the winner will be announced in the afternoon. A bidding nation must get at least 12 votes in the first round of selection to gain the majority and win the hosting rights outright. If no nation has the majority, a second round of voting will take place between the Top 2 vote-getters.

The CNMI has never hosted the Mini Games and members of the bid committee and local sports officials are hoping PGAs will give the Commonwealth the chance to bring the Games here in 2017. Having adequate facilities is also a deciding factor in the Mini Games and the CNMI made the grade based on the evaluation report of Pacific Games Council executive director Andrew Minogue.