By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
FOLLOWING a series of historic performances on the regional stage, the Northern Marianas Sports Association has officially launched an ambitious roadmap for the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti. The announcement, made during the recent NMSA annual banquet at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, outlined the vision and preparation plans for sending the commonwealth’s largest-ever delegation.
The NMI’s level of sports has seen a sharp upward trajectory since hosting the Pacific Mini Games in 2022, when the home team of 125 athletes and officials won 38 medals across all nine sports. Team Marianas then competed in the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, where a delegation of 104 earned 13 medals. In the 2024 Micronesian Games in the Marshall Islands, 116 athletes won 122 medals, including a Micro Games record 70 golds. Most recently, the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau saw a delegation of 161 bring home 31 medals, topping the Micronesian medal standings. In total, 506 athletes and officials have won 204 medals over these competitions.
For the 2027 Pacific Games, running from July 24 to Aug. 8 in Tahiti, NMSA is targeting a delegation of 230 athletes, surpassing the 161 sent last year.
NMSA President Jerry Tan emphasized that success is not just measured in medals. “It is never really about gold, silver, or bronze,” Tan said. “Results will happen, but we are winners the minute we send our first group out,” he added.
A primary challenge for Team Marianas is the grueling travel required to reach the South Pacific. In previous games, athletes faced long travel times with multiple layovers. To combat fatigue and ensure peak performance, NMSA is pursuing a direct charter flight for 2027.
Beyond logistics, NMSA highlighted the changing face of NMI sports. Currently, 40% of the athlete pool is under 18, and 47% are women. “One thing about sports is that it’s played by both men and women, but usually it’s easier to recruit boys and men,” Tan said. “In our case, we’re thrilled to see that we only need 3% more to reach 50%. The future of sports in the CNMI is bright.”
With the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games held every four years, keeping athletes at their peak is critical. To address this, Tan announced the launch of a new regional tradition: the inaugural Marianas Games. The Marianas Games will be an annual competition for athletes from Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, bridging the gap between major four-year cycles and serving as preparation for the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games.
“It’s all about giving our athletes opportunities to compete on a regular basis — an annual basis,” Tan said.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
