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‘CNMI lost a great friend of sports’
Inos
“The CNMI lost a great leader and a great friend of sport.”
This was how Northern Marianas Sports Association president Michael White described the sudden death of the late governor Eloy Inos, who passed away on Dec. 29 while recovering from a surgery in a hospital in Seattle, Washington.
White said the late governor was one of the most passionate supporters of sports in the CNMI that resulted in the Commonwealth winning the rights to host the 2021 Pacific Mini Games and NMSA finally becoming a private institution.
“We will never forget Governor Inos’ full and enthusiastic support for our successful bid to host the 2021 Pacific Mini Games,” said White.
The CNMI first bid to host the scaled down version of the Pacific Games for 2017 but lost to Vanuatu, 13-9, in the final round of voting in New Caledonia.
In July 2014, White confirmed that the Mini Games would be coming to Saipan for the first time after the Pacific Games Council awarded the hosting rights to the CNMI during their general assembly in Papua New Guinea.
NMSA is in the process of helping prepare Saipan in hosting the quadrennial Mini Games. The Oleai Sports Complex, which would be the main hub of the Games, is due for renovation and improvement after being damaged by several typhoons last year.
An oversight committee has already been formed to oversee and help manage Saipan’s preparations.
White, NMSA vice president Kurt Barnes, and secretary Rose Igitol, are the members of the committee along with PGC president Vidhya Lakhan (Council), Gov. Inos appointees businessman Jerry Tan, Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada, Merced Tomokane, and Virginia Villagomez.
White said that Inos also pushed for the privatization of NMSA when he signed Public Law 18-49 on May 7, 2014.
“[Inos] was also very supportive of the new public law, which establishes NMSA as a true independent organization devoted to the development of sports in the CNMI,” said White.
“And to representing the CNMI in international sporting organizations and events.”
White added that NMSA joins the entire Commonwealth in mourning on Inos’ passing.
“We will miss his friendship and wise counsel. NMSA and all of our members extend our deepest sympathy to his family.”
