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TRAC now associate member of ITU
Manny Sitchon addresses members of the Triathlon Association of the CNMI as the organization’s new president during their meeting last Saturday in the Northern Marianas Sports Association office at the Francisco C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)
The Triathlon Association of the CNMI has officially been recognized by the International Triathlon Union as an associate member of the Oceania Triathlon Union.
According to TRAC president Manny Sitchon, this means the Triathlon Association of the CNMI will be getting more support from Oceania.
“Before, we didn’t have much access [to aid] from [Oceania] because we are not yet recognized as a member of Oceania Federation. Now, although we aren’t a full member of Oceania, we are now an associate member. The CNMI has long been pushing to become a part of Oceania Federation,” he said.
Sitchon said this entails that the sport of triathlon in the CNMI will gain a lot more support including educational support, financial support, and more.
During a World Triathlon Congress virtual meeting back in November 2020, the Northern Mariana Islands was officially approved as an associate member of the International Triathlon Union.
The membership is a big boost to the triathlon group and they will be using their membership to prepare for the CNMI’s hosting of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, Sitchon said.
TRAC was granted membership after waiting for nearly three years. TRAC applied to become part of the union but they were denied because a provision in the ITU constitution that was added back in 1995 established that only member countries recognized by the International Olympic Committee or United Nations could become a full member.
However, back in 2018, the ITU Congress amended the constitution to allow territories to become members too.
