MEMBERSHIP in the International Olympic Committee remains a top goal for the CNMI, Northern Marianas Sports Association president Jerry Tan said in a media conference with the Oceania National Olympic Committee on Friday.
“Obviously it is a difficult journey,” he added.
“I don’t have anything definite to say at this time but it is our ultimate goal and dream to see our athletes participate in the Olympics just like many of our Oceania brothers and sisters.”
“We are examining what happened in the late 80’s [when the CNMI first applied for IOC membership],” Tan said. “We are reaching out to different stakeholders and different people who were involved with NMSA at the time.”
Tan said he also plans to work closely with the Oceania sports leadership. “I’ve spent some time in the sporting world to understand that for this kind of quest, you really need a lot of support, starting with our own region.”
He added, “But again, I really have nothing definite at this time but the only thing we want to assure the sporting community is that the quest for Olympic membership continues and we will not give up until all efforts are exhausted.”
Workshop
For its part, the Oceania National Olympic Committee was on island to host a three-day workshop in preparation for the 2022 Pacific Mini Games which Saipan will host.
According to ONOC chief communications officer Inoke Bainamarama, “The [Pacific Mini Games’] nine sports have criteria to meet and, in some instances, these can become stepping stones to the Pacific Games which then become qualifiers for the Olympic Games.”
Bainamarama said the Pacific Mini Games “could act as a catalyst to become part of the Olympic family.”
Guam National Olympic Committee board member Joey Miranda III also shared his thoughts regarding the CNMI’s Olympic quest.
“Basically, clean up house,” he said. “Getting all your federations on the same line and [making sure] that you are physically ready to handle all the obligations…. The main purpose of sports [for an Olympic committee] is working with the athletes. You guys have that so put that in your application and when they see that you are in line with the vision of IOC, then they may [consider your application],” he added.
So far, under Jerry Tan’s leadership, the CNMI has already become a member of the Asian Football Confederation.
Joey Miranda III, Vicente Babauta, Jerry Tan, Meli Cavu and Inoke Bainamarama conduct a press conference at the Ada gym on Friday.
