THE CNMI’s preparations for the 2022 Pacific Mini Games that it will host in June are ongoing and include several renovation and improvement projects, games chief executive officer Vicente “Ben” Babauta said.
“The contract for the Oleai Sports Complex track & field has already been awarded to a contractor so they will start work as soon as possible,” he added. “We should be able to complete the improvement of the track in April.”
The Francisco M. Palacios Baseball Field will also get a facelift very soon, Babauta said, adding that the renovation should be completed in 60 days.
The repair work at the Ada gym continues and may be completed by May 1, he said.
As for the CNMI national teams that will compete in the Pacific Mini Games, Babauta said the local athletics group may announce in April who the selected athletes are among a pool of 40.
For its part, the NMI baseball national team pool is now down to 30.
The local golf federation has already named its team members while other sports groups are now completing their rosters and will soon make announcements.
Babauta said the V1 canoes they ordered should arrive over the weekend while the weightlifting equipment should be here by March.
The mini-games will feature nine sports:
Athletics
Badminton
Baseball
Beach volleyball
Golf
Tennis
Triathlon
Va’a (Outrigger Canoe Racing)
Weightlifting
Babauta said around 1,700 individuals have confirmed their attendance or participation in the games. The number includes about 1,300 athletes, he added.
“We’re getting really big numbers of athletes from Tahiti, New Caledonia, and the rest of the other Pacific countries and islands. Quite exciting games for both spectators and the community,” Babauta said.
Visiting athletes, for their part, “will also get a feel” for Tinian, the venue of beach volleyball, and Rota which will host the triathlon event.
Meanwhile, “we continue to reach out to public agencies and private businesses in terms of sponsorship.”
“This is a historical event,” Babauta added. “It is also an opportunity for an economic rebound for hotels, restaurants, transportation companies, gift shops, stores, and even Laundromats, among other local businesses.”
He added, “Time for the community to be positive and start reaching out as volunteers for the mini games. If not, they could show the island spirit and warmly welcome athletes and spectators alike.”
For more information, go to www.northernmarianas2022.com
Athletes, sports officials and students get ready to march and present the flags of the 24 participating countries/territories of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games during a launch ceremony at the Oleai Sports Complex on June 17, 2021.
