By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The 16 States have until today to submit and identify what sports they are participating in next month’s Belau Games, the organizing Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) said yesterday.
All the States in Palau have already confirmed their participation in the annual event slated June 15-24 in different sports venues in Koror.
A meeting with all the State representatives for the nine-day multi-sports activity is held at 11 a.m. today at the PNOC office.
A total of 13 sport events will be contested namely archery, athletics, baseball, basketball, canoe, tennis, softball slowpitch and fastpitch, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball, beach volleyball and weightlifting.
The Belau Games is held annually to promote goodwill and friendly competitions throughout Palau.
It also promotes the Olympic Spirit and provides a healthy environment and an opportunity to all Palauans to participate in sports programs, identify new talents and potential athletes, continue the development of sports toward regional and international games such as the Micronesian Games, South Pacific and the Olympics.
The event is open to all Palauan citizens and for non-Palauans, who have a five-year residency before the opening ceremony of the 2007 edition.
Also non-Palauans legally married to Palauans and who are permanent residents of Palau must have a one-year residency requirement.
This year’s event will be conducted under rules and regulations of each national federation under the auspices of the PNOC.
All games technical management will be under the full discretion of each individual tournament director and the respective sport International Federation regulations.
The Games will be officially tallied by medal count for each sport or event. Medal tally will be based on international rules for each individual and team sport.