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NMA getting all set for regional track tourney
CNMI runners train at the Oleai Sports Complex oval yesterday in preparation for the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships 2018 that will be held on June 14 and 15. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
The Northern Marianas Athletics is putting the finishing touches on its preparation for the hosting of the Oceania Micronesian Regional Championships 2018.
Equipment have been unloaded and will be in placed in time for the June 14 to 15 competition, volunteers have been organized, and meetings with officials of the Oceania Athletics Association have taken place to iron out final details for the tournament and other side events.
As for the participating athletes, the CNMI bets had their penultimate training session yesterday, while off-island competitors will start arriving today.
NMA secretary general Robin Sapong said the first batch of athletes and officials will come from Guam, Nauru, and Tinian, while the last wave of delegates (more than 90), including those from the Federated States of Micronesia will touch down at the Saipan/Francisco C. Ada International Airport tomorrow.
Around 200 athletes and officials will join the two-day competition, according to NMA president and local organizing committee head Ramon Tebuteb. The number would have gone up if not for the last-minute cancelation of Kiribati, which failed to secure U.S. visas for its athletes and officials.
Meanwhile, a few side events will take place before the competition kicks off at the Oleai Sports Complex oval.
The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs will host a forum on June 13 from 10am to 1pm at the Guma Higa in Civic Center with a theme on environmental and sustainable youth incentives related to athletics.
The seminar on Hytek—the software used in athletics and other competitions—will also be held on June 13 from 8am to 12nn at the conference room of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with OAA taking the lead. There’s a coaches seminar, too, and will run until June 15 with both OAA and NMA hosting the event.
A technical official seminar is scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Ada Gym, while Gov. Ralph DLG Torres will be hosting the opening ceremony and welcome dinner for the tournament tomorrow at Surf Club, starting at 5:30pm.
