(NMSA) — The Northern Marianas Sports Association announced to the sporting community of Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and Guam that the Marianas Games 2026 has been postponed until further notice following damage caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku across the islands.
“The NMSA Board made a very difficult decision to postpone the Marianas Games 2026 until further notice, as we understand the need for everyone to focus on recovery efforts,” NMSA President Jerry Tan said.
The Marianas Games were scheduled to take place on Saipan from June 19 to 21, 2026, with athletes set to compete in athletics, badminton, baseball, 3×3 basketball, women’s fastpitch softball, golf, indoor volleyball, open water swim, va’a, and weightlifting.
“I know our sporting community is looking forward to the Marianas Games 2026. Please remain excited and keep that positive attitude as we navigate these challenges together,” Tan said.
The majority of the events were set to be hosted at the Oleai Sports Complex, which sustained damage from the Category 5 typhoon that brought heavy rains and destructive winds for days. Last Sunday, the NMBA Board conducted a walkthrough of the facility and made an initial assessment of the damage.
The super typhoon ripped portions of the rubber surface off the track and field oval, toppled metal bleachers, and shattered some grandstand lights. The newly built bullpen at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field was brought down, while the bleachers remained intact but lost their roofs. The Miguel “Tan Ge” Basa Pangelinan Ballfield was also affected, with roofs torn off and fences knocked down. The Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium lost a portion of its roof and had a broken window in one of its two multi-purpose rooms, with water also entering the facility. Canoes acquired during the 2021 Pacific Mini Games, stored at the Ada gym, were spared from damage.
“Overall, the damage was not as extensive as what happened during Yutu in 2018. All our light poles are still standing. However, the safety of Marianas Games 2026 participants is our top priority, so we cannot host this event under these conditions. Recovery will take time, and residents of all four islands will be busy in the coming months bouncing back from this disaster,” NMSA General Secretary John Hirsh said.
NMSA Vice President Ramon Tebuteb, who joined Hirsh, Tan, directors John Davis, Alex Sablan, Merlie Tolentino, and Nick Gross, and athletes representative Angel San Nicolas at the site assessment over the weekend, hopes that once national federations and their athletes and officials complete cleanup at their homes, they can also assist in clearing typhoon debris at the OSC.
