‘Incentives will serve as extra motivation’

Peter

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ announcement of cash incentives for athletes and teams that medal in this month’s Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 has been welcomed with open arms by athletes, coaches, and officials involved in the quadrennial event. 

Mini Games Organizing Committee chair Marco Peter said since Torres’ challenge he has talked to several athletes and all of them are “pumped up” to do their best in the Mini Games set from June 17 to 25.

“Incentives work to motivate people. Salaries, raises, bonuses, etc. are incentives to encourage us to do well at our job. Why shouldn’t the athletes be incentivized?” 

Peter, who represented the CNMI in golf in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, also knows a thing or two about the psyche of athletes.

“These athletes have been through a lot. Many of them work full-time jobs and go to practice early before work and then after work. Their discipline and their pride in the Marianas is second to none.”

He added that it’s about the process that leads to their competition that shapes their physical and mental habits and their character as well. 

“They deserve the best since they’ve survived the worst. If they have been incentivized to perform with excellence, I’ll remind you that every Nobel Prize winner receives $1 million for their work and for their accomplishment. ‘Incentives’ is not a four-letter word. I thank the governor for thinking about the athletes who will be representing each of us and our amazing community. Our athletes have earned everything they receive including our gratitude and applause and medals and prizes,” said Peter.

The MGOC official also said that incentivizing top-performing athletes in the Mini Games is pretty much in line with what the Torres administration did when it started the tourism bubble with South Korea.

‘I’m happy that the governor is thinking about our athletes with everything else that’s going on including trying to incentivize travel to Saipan for citizens from neighboring countries in order to jump start our economy. In the same spirit, he’s saying to the athletes that just like at work, there will be a bonus for any athlete who demonstrates extraordinary performance. I’m thrilled that he’s participating in his own unique way.”

Northern Marianas National Paddle Sports Federation president and CNMI National Outrigger Canoe Team coach Justin H. Andrew also thanked Torres for the incentives he laid out for athletes who medal.

“Seeing this, I’m sure our athletes will work extra hard not only to make Team NMI and our local community proud but to also have a shot at some extra cash,” he said.

Ditto for CNMI National Triathlon Team manager Jay Diyco

“It’s an extra motivation for the athletes during the Games,” he added.

Peter again thanked Torres not only for promising $5,000 to gold medalists, $2,500 for silver medalists, $1,000 for bronze medalists, and $1,000 for gold medalists for team events, but also for green-lighting the hosting of the Mini Games after initially balking due to the devastation brought by super typhoons Yutu and Soudelor and then afterwards increasing the CNMI government’s financial commitment.

“Remember, the Mini Games committee asked for $2.5 million for these Games and the governor said here’s $4 million. It’s important for us to acknowledge his commitment to sports in these islands and to our fiduciary commitment to the Pacific Games Council that we have membership in.”