Funding for 2022 Mini Games sought

2022 Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter asks questions to Pacific Games Council chief executive officer Andrew Minogue (top left of screen), while Oversight Committee head Alex Sablan listens during a meeting at the Saipan Mayor’s Office last Tuesday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The CNMI-hosted 2022 Pacific Mini Games maybe 16 months away, but its organizers need all the help it could get both from the public and private sectors, especially on the financial aspect, to roll out the preparations required for the regional sporting event.

During the Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee meeting held last Tuesday at the Saipan Mayor’s Office, Pacific Games Council chief executive officer Andrew Minogue pointed out that it would be crucial for the committee to have a “start-off fund” at this time of the Commonwealth’s preparation for the competition. Minogue attended the meeting online.

For now, what the committee has is the $20,000 that PGC gave as seed money for the hiring of the Mini Games CEO.

The agreed budget for the Mini Games was around $3.2 million with chunk of it to be used for operations and games delivery, which would include accommodation, food, transportation (on island), and other related costs before the actual competitions and in the duration of the event slated for June 17 to 25 next year.

Of the total budget, the CNMI, as host country, could count on the roughly $200,000 participation fees from athletes and officials ($450 fees per delegate), but that amount would be available later as the Games near. The Commonwealth could also get some funding from the Oceania National Olympic Committee and from private sponsors and donors, but just like the participation fees, these would all come in later, leaving the organizing committee with the task to knock on the CNMI governor’s door for the immediate financial assistance.

The Office of the Governor through the Department of Finance has already paid the first two installments of the Pacific Games Council fees ($250,000 hosting fees), while payments for last year were deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hosting fees are also part of the total budget for the rescheduled event.

Pacific Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter, during last Tuesday’s meeting, told members and officials of the group and Minogue that he will communicate with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Finance, and even the recently sworn in 22th CNMI Legislature for the funding assistance.

Press secretary Kevin Bautista when asked about the committee’s dilemma said communications among the parties involved are on-going.