GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on July 1 submitted a revised proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023 that included $475,000 for local athletes.
The revised proposed budget is for the Commonwealth Government and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2023, which, as mandated by the Constitution, is balanced with the total amount of proposed expenditures not exceeding the total estimated resources available for appropriation.
This revision to the April budget submission, afforded through the Planning and Budgeting Act, reflects changes to Volume I, or the general fund, within which the governor allocates $75,000 to the Northern Marianas Sports Association to support athletes invited for representation at off-island sporting events.
Additionally, within revisions to Volume IV, or the American Rescue Plan Act fund, Governor Torres allocated $400,000 to the NMSA to support athletes who will participate in the 2023 Pacific Games and the Micronesian Games.
“We are all proud of our athletes and all their successes during this year’s Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, and I would like to continue to support all our athletes who continue to work hard to represent the CNMI,” said the governor.
“Next year is both the Pacific Games and the Micronesian Games, and our athletes are also invited to other off-island sporting events throughout the year. These funds being allocated to the Northern Marianas Sports Association, who have played a big part in our historical hosting of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games, will go toward supporting our athletes, who wave our flag and represent the entire CNMI when they compete around the Pacific.”
CNMI athletes competing in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games were also promised by Governor Torres $5,000 for winning a gold medal, $2,500 for silver and $1,000 for bronze.
On top of the incentive package, Torres said he would also award $1,000 to each member of a local team that would win gold in their event. Individual event CNMI gold medalists would get $1,000.
The CNMI won a total of 16 gold, 13 silver and nine bronze medals to finish third overall in the medal tally of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.
In the previous Mini Games hosted by Vanuatu in 2017, the CNMI won one bronze medal only.
Ralph DLG Torres
