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Bigger funding source needed to improve sports venues
Northern Marianas Sports Association executive director Tony Rogolifoi said a bigger amount will be needed to fix and improve Saipan’s sports facilities after several typhoons caused major damage the past few months.
The encasement in the throwing events of athletics is one of the facilities that need replacement after being damaged by several typhoons that hit Saipan.
(Jon Perez)
Rogolifoi said the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s assistance is a big help as they prepare Saipan’s facilities for the XI Pacific Mini Games, which the Commonwealth will be hosting in the summer of 2021.
“FEMA had already checked the [Gilbert C.] Ada Gym[nasium] and other facilities here inside the sports complex. We’re just waiting for the funds to start fixing things and the renovation,” Rogolifoi told Saipan Tribune.
“But we need a lot of money because we’re not only going to repair the facilities but also improve and expand it. It all boils down to funding.”
He said FEMA’s assistance won’t be enough and the money NMSA collects from the instant scratchies lottery is reserved to shoulder travel costs of the CNMI delegation to the Pacific Games, Pacific Mini Games, and the Micronesian Games.
“We’re hoping the governor or Legislature would do their share. The money from the scratchies won’t be enough and we’re going to use it for travel of CNMI athletes to the Pacific Games.”
The Ada Gym—including the offices—and the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios and the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan ballfields were among those that were heavily damaged by Typhoon Soudelor.
The Oleai track and field facility is also due for repairs and resurfacing with the money coming from a Community Development Block Grant from the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.
“The Ada Gym right now is our main concern. We’re having problems in organizing indoor games and we already received lots of requests from different organizations to use the facility,” said Rogolifoi.
“But as of now we can’t accommodate them. The gym remains closed until we fix the leaking roof.”
Aside from the roof leaks, which flooded the court when Typhoon Champi hit Saipan, the ceiling of the offices inside the Ada Gym and the conference room also needs to be repaired.
“The gym and our offices were filled with water after the typhoon. The water came from the sides so the windows should also be repaired,” added Rogolifoi.
