A $6,000 cash incentive offered to any CNMI athlete who wins a gold medal in the Pacific Mini Games this year is not “too much,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said.
Of the amount, $5,000 will be provided by the PMG 2022 organizing committee and $1,000 by the Office of the Governor.
“How do you put a value and say it’s too much when they wave your flag during a regional competition?” Torres asked.
He said it is insulting to athletes, coaches, event organizers, and the people of the Commonwealth to say that the cash incentive for CNMI gold medalists is “too much.”
Torres said he wishes he could give more to local athletes, adding that waving of the CNMI flag and the singing of the CNMI anthem in a regional or international competition is priceless.
Torres is hoping that the community would “give our athletes just that extra push, an extra thank you for working so hard to represent the CNMI.”
He added, “I hope that the others who are complaining will please put more money into our athletes.”
Torres at the same time congratulated the CNMI athletes who won medals in the 2022 Oceania Athletics Championships in Australia.
“To everyone, regardless of the result, when you wave our flag to represent the CNMI, you are among our best athletes, and I want to thank you, your family, your coaches who put sweat and love into the sport,” he added.
He urged the athletes to continue to hone their talents and allow the CNMI to be part of their journey.
“I always believe that our folks here have the talent and have the heart…to compete around the world.
“I hope the Legislature is listening. Maybe we should start looking at promoting and putting a special account into place for our athletes who go out there and represent the CNMI at the highest level,” said the governor.
