Summer Sports Camp draws over 150

Participants, coaches, volunteers, and guests of the Summer Sports Camps 2021 pose for a photo during the event’s recognition ceremony last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Contributed photo)

The Summer Sports Camp 2021 organized by Saipan Soccer School and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation had a triumphant return with more than 150 children participating in the nearly month-long event.

The summer camp, which missed its 2020 edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, concluded this year’s sessions last Friday at the TSL Sports Complex with participants awarded completion medals and gift bags.

“We are pleased with the resounding success of this year’s summer camp and are very happy to be able to offer a worthwhile program for our children especially at this time of the pandemic. We look forward to seeing them again next year and welcoming new participants,” said SSS and TSL Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino, who thanked the volunteers and coaches that ran the program from July 6 to 30.

This year’s summer camp offered four sports for the first time—volleyball, badminton, soccer, and basketball—and each federation that worked with the organizers in conducting lessons and fun games are thankful for the opportunity to promote their respective sports.

“We’ve been doing volleyball clinics for high school students for the past few months so having this camp for younger kids allows us to bring our program to the grassroots level. It’s great to teach the fundamentals of volleyball to children to give them a strong foundation,” said Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association president Somia Quan, who was joined by NMIVA general secretary Shawn Davis and other volunteers in presenting medals to camp participants.

Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation president James Lee, NMI Rollers Basketball Club players/volunteers, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association general secretary Ross Zapanta, executive director Ruselle Zapanta, and coach Angie Ito, and Northern Marianas Badminton Association vice president Nate Guerrero and treasurer Shirley Kim were also present at the summer camp’s recognition ceremony.

Ruselle Zapanta noted how the summer camp has grown from just providing soccer lessons to offering multiple sports. He added that he hopes to see the camp participants join the clubs under NMIFA or play for their schools.

Lee, on the other hand, said the summer camp served as a jumpstart for NMIBF’s own program—the “Mini Basketball and Basketball for Good.” NMBA also sees the summer camp as an extension of the “Shuttle Time” program, which Badminton World Federations has been implementing for years.

“Activities like this help us, sports federations, reach out to our youth and promote our programs,” Lee said.

Meanwhile, parents and guardians of camp participants are grateful that SSS, the TSL Foundation, the four sports federations, and the CNMI Public School System were able to work together and provide a program for their kids. The CNMI Public School System provided meals to camp participants.

“As a parent, I am happy that my son looks forward to going to the summer camp instead of playing with his gadgets when school is on break. He loves it here and enjoys interacting with the coaches and kids of his age. We will definitely comeback next year,” said Lala Agustino, whose son Jayden attended the badminton lessons of the camp. (PR)