Deadlines for 2019 Pacific Games set

The Apia Park National Stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2019 Pacific Games and other competitions in next year’s event. (Samoa Pacific Games)

Submission of the initial number of entries for countries that will be competing in the XVI Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa is due at the end of October this year.

The Oct. 31 deadline is among the key dates organizers of the quadrennial released to island-nations that will send delegates to the competition, which will be held from July 7 to 20.

The CNMI, during the Northern Marianas Sports Association meeting early this month, estimated that over 100 athletes and officials will head to Samoa next year to play in several sports. Athletics has initially committed six athletes (three male and female each) and a coach, while canoe plans to send 18 athletes (men and women’s teams) and four coaches. Other sports that have expressed interest in representing the Commonwealth in the Pacific Games are basketball (men’s and women’s 3×3 and 5×5), sailing, swimming, tennis, beach and indoor volleyball, weightlifting, and rugby.

Team Marianas has until Jan. 7 next year to confirm the final numerical entries, as registration on the competition website will start on Jan. 31. Then the deadline for submission of entries by names is set for May 22 or 45 days before the Pacific Games kick off. NMSA president Michael White, during the group’s meeting this month, reminded local sports federations sending teams/athletes to Samoa that there are no fines for squads that will back out from the competition. However, they still have to be conscious about the deadlines to avoid problems in accommodations and flights in Samoa. White also urged CNMI teams to start fundraising for their participation in the Pacific Games.

Also set for May 22 is the payment for 30 percent of per diem charges. Per diem is set at $35. The next 30 percent should be settled by June 6, while the remaining 40 must be paid by June 30. NMASA has yet to discuss the financial assistance that delegates to the games will receive. In this year’s Micronesian Games in Yap, the group gave each athlete/official $500 financial aid.

Meanwhile, other key dates in next year’s Pacific Games are June 6 and July 14, which are set for the accreditation of all officials and opening of the Athletes Village, respectively.

The CNMI, during the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea, sent athletes in the swimming, canoe, triathlon, sailing, and beach volleyball competitions and missed bringing home medals from Port Moresby. The host country topped the medal standings with its 88 golds, 69 silver, and 60 bronze, while New Caledonia (59-50-57) and Tahiti (39-34-40) rounded out the Top 3.