TWENTY-THREE members of the Football Association of Ireland and about 37 international media representatives, including the British Broadcasting Corp., will arrive on Saipan this Saturday.
The Irish team is participating in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and will be on island to prepare for their first game, which is against Cameroon. The team is scheduled to leave on May 24 and fly to Japan.
The Irish team’s visit is expected to generate interest in the CNMI as a tourist destination.
Acting Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Vicky I. Benavente said the team will be accompanied by their coaches, doctors, managers and supporters.
“We’re very excited. We will have the BBC and also the national TV of Ireland called Sky TV. We have several national and international radio stations plus British and Irish journalists,” Benavente told Variety.
It was Ray Treacy who proposed Saipan as a training location for the team. He said Saipan has the “ideal” environment for McCarthy and his Irish squad.
“Saipan has the essential sun, sand and sea that will allow the squad to ease into the World Cup preparations. During the week, the players will be able to relax and reflect on their challenging season but they will also need to use the six days to train hard,” McCarthy said.
The CNMI government has built a training field for the team and even had the façade of Ada Gym asphalted.
Benavente said the team will stay at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. MVA is also preparing an itinerary for the visitors.
“We’re trying to draft an itinerary so that we can show them the whole of Saipan,” she said.
