The Oceania local organizing committee that has been holding meetings on weekly basis have wrapped up the plan down to the specific details on how the entire world class tournament that CNMI is hosting for the first time, is going to be.
The draft program of the sports events lists 6k Run for men in Open and Under 18 division as the opening event at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility. This will be followed by the same event for women in the Open and Under 18 division.
Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, chairman of the local organizing committee said that a week ago, Bank of Guam, Bank of Saipan and Telesource Company have pledged to assist in providing food for the athletes.
The Marpac, Coca-Cola and Powerade, Tebuteb added have also assured the local organizing committee to take care of the athlete’s drinks.
The main sponsor of the Oceania tournaments is the Adidas that have already sent hundreds of complete gear for the athletes.
Tebuteb said the committee needs 50 volunteers to assist in all the events.
Meanwhile, he said the International Association of Athletic Federations and the Oceania Athletics Association are still dealing with some problems of one of the two people they contracted to survey the track and field facility for the certification.
Tebuteb said one of the IAAF-certified surveyors who is coming from Thailand is still having some problem with immigration.
With regards to the accommodation for the visiting athletes, NMI is now 100 percent prepared. He said three “Athlete’s Village” have already been established—the Chalan Kanoa Beach Hotel which the local organizing committee reserved entirely for the athletes, the Aquarius Beach Tower both in Chalan Kanoa, and the Summer Holiday in Garapan.
Some of the OAA officials including executive director Yvonne Mullins are arriving on June 13 and will be staying at Hyatt Regency Saipan.
Some IAAF will also be coming a few days after the OAA officials.
Tebuteb added that aside from OAA’s own medical team, the Department of Public Health will also assist in attending to the athletes’ health concerns.
He said that on Monday, Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez assured him that in seriously considering all the athletes’ health concern, a team of staffers from the Commonwealth Health Center will be at there on shifting schedules.
The Department of Public Safety will also be providing security and order at the tournaments venue and athletes’ villages.
The local organizing committee, Tebuteb said is expecting about 300 visiting athletes.
Most of the succeeding events will happen on the second day when all appointed officials and assistants will have a briefing with the competition director.
The events on this day includes heptathlon 100-meter hurdles for women 18-and-under and Open division; Octathlon 100-meter sprint for men 18-and-under and Open division; discus throw for men, Under 18; 400-meter sprint for men and women Under 18; javelin throw, 100-meter run and high jump for women Under 18; heptathlon 3-women shot put in Under 18 and Open division; 110-meter hurdles, 100-meter sprint for men Under 18 and Open division, triple jump for women Open division; 3-men octathlon shot put for men in Open and Under 18; javelin throw for men in Open; 3,000-meter run for men and women Under 18; high jump for men Open division; 200-meter sprint for women Under 18 and Open division; 4 Men 400 meter sprint in Under 18 and Open; 5,000-meter run for men and women Open division; javelin thrown for women in Open division; 3,000 walk race for men and women; mixed distance medley in the Under 18 and Open division and 4×100 meter relay for men and women in Under 18 and Open division.
The other 41 events happen on the third day, June 27 but the time of arrival of the athletes will be advised by relevant referees.
