Athletes treated to McDonald’s Guam; gives thanks

Some Team NMI athletes who competed at the 10th Micronesian Games were treated to dinner at McDonald’s Guam on their layover from their travels from the Marshall Islands last Monday night.

McDonald’s of Saipan/Guam was a major sponsor for the delegation and with Marcia Ayuyu, vice president and owner for McDonald’s of Saipan/Guam also in Guam at the same time as the athletes, she treated them to dinner at their Tamuning branch.

The athletes consisted of the NMI National Athletics Team, NMI National Tennis Team, and some members of the NMI National Fast Pitch Softball Team. They were joined by Northern Marianas Athletics general secretary Robin Sapong, who was also in the Games as an official.

Ayuyu said in an interview, “Thank you to the parents who helped and supported their kids, as well as the volunteers taking their time to be there. To all the athletes, I just want to say I’m so proud of them.”

“We do the best we can—McDonald’s is here to help in any way we can. I’m just glad I’m here in Guam at the same time as the team… I’m just happy to support any way I can,” she said.

As for the overall team’s performance in the Micro Games, she said, “They did a really good job. They went there and really did their best—I’m inspired.”

During the dinner, fast-pitch coach Derron Flores thanked Ayuyu for the meal and for their support of the team. He said, “on behalf of the athletes, thank you for hosting us. All our athletes worked hard to smash the record.”

For NMI National Tennis Team head coach Jeff Race, he said, “In all the Games I’ve been in, I think this is the most successful one for the Northern Mariana Islands. I felt like our team had good camaraderie when we were there and a lot of support; we tried to watch the sports when we could. It was a memorable Games experience that the people who went will never forget.”

He added, “We would have never been able to do this without the sponsors at McDonald’s and our other sponsors so, thank you so much.”

Sapong then thanked Ayuyu for the support and thanked all the coaches as well.

NMI Athletics team member Theodore Rodgers then led a closing prayer for the team giving thanks for the journey and praying for a safe flight back home.

The rest of the team trickled on home before the Games ended on June 24, with more athletes on the way home this week.