Senate resolution presented to Team NMI

Team NMI athletes of the 10th Micronesian Games were not only awarded cash incentives, but were also honored with a Senate resolution during an appreciation ceremony for their record-breaking performance at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium last Tuesday.

The team won 122 medals—70 gold, 23 silver, and 29 bronze. They now hold the Micronesian Games record of the most gold medals, along with the most total medals ever won by an NMI delegation since the 92 (44-23-25) previously recorded in the 2010 Micronesian Games held in Palau.

Senate Resolution No. 23-06 was presented to the team by Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) and Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian). It was introduced by the Senate of the 23rd Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature.

“To congratulate all athletes and officials who participated in the 2024 Micronesian Games for their outstanding performance and proudly representing the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,” the resolution states.

“Whereas, the Micronesian Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event bringing together athletes throughout the region to showcase their athleticism and skill among all island entities of Micronesia; and whereas, over the years, the Micronesian Games have laid a strong foundation for sportsmanship and uniting our sons and daughters of Micronesia across the vast Pacific building lifelong affiliations in the love for sports; and whereas, the 2024 Micronesian Games held in Majuro of the Republic of the Marshall Islands from June 15-24, 2024 gave rise to the growing athleticism of our islands; and whereas, the CNMI delegation sent a combined total of 110 athletes and officials to represent the Commonwealth to the best of their athletic abilities such as basketball, beach volleyball, fast-pitch softball, swimming, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling; and whereas, the CNMI Delegation garnered first in the overall medal count, breaking records for the most medals awarded and setting a new record for the most gold medals awarded,” said the resolution.

The NMI National Swim Team composed of 17 delegates collected the biggest bounty of 49 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals; the NMI National Athletics Team made up of 21 delegates hauled in 5 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 6 bronze medals; the NMI National Basketball Team that consisted of 28 delegates won 1 silver medal; the NMI National Beach Volleyball Team made up of 4 delegates garnered 2 bronze medals; the NMI National Women’s Fast-Pitch Softball Team composed of 19 delegates bagged 1 bronze medal; the NMI National Tennis Team of 9 delegates took home 7 gold medals and 2 bronze medals; the NMI National Weightlifting Team composed of 8 delegates claimed 3 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals: and the NMI National Wrestling Team composed of 4 delegates garnered 6 gold medals.

The ceremony was attended by Team NMI athletes and officials of the eight sports federations, the sponsors, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Northern Marianas Sport Association board president Jerry Tan and board members, Senate President Edith DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan), Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian), Saipan Mayor Ramon B. “RB” Camacho, and family, friends, and supporters.

Congratulatory speeches were made by Tan, Apatang, Camacho, and closing remarks were made by NMSA treasurer John Hirsh.

In Tan’s remarks, he said, “We are here to celebrate the 122 medals—70 gold, 23 silver, and 29 bronze. We broke a lot of records. Like I said, this Team Marianas did not just train for a few weeks or a few months. They’ve been putting in a lot of hard work day in and day out for a year—two years—looking forward to the next Micronesian Games.”

“The result that they’ve accomplished was not by luck—it’s hard work. So that’s why I really want to appreciate the eight national sports federations that participated,” he said. “In all eight sports, we medaled.”

He added that in a span of 25 months, the NMI delegation has participated and won medals in all three big sporting events in the region—the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands, and the 2024 Micronesian Games in the Republic of Marshall Islands.

With that, he said, “we want to give maximum opportunities to all the athletes and that is what we will continue to do.” He added that with the upcoming 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, they want to start preparing and planning to send another strong delegation there.

For Apatang, he said, “Welcome back and well done, Team Marianas! Governor [Arnold I.] Palacios and I would like to give a huge shout-out to our fantastic team for bringing home a total of 122 medals in the 2024 Micronesian Games. The CNMI is proud of your accomplishments and thank you for being the true sportsmen and sportswomen, and for professionally representing our beautiful CNMI in the Micronesian Games.”

Team NMI’s participation in the 2024 Micronesian Games was supported by the following sponsors: Joeten Daidai Foundation, Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, Skechers, Marianas Express Lines Ltd. as platinum sponsors. Triple J Enterprise, E-Land, TakeCare Insurance, and D&Q International Distributors were gold sponsors. RNV Construction, Bank of Guam, IT&E, Dial-Rent-to-Own, Chinese Association of Saipan, Black Construction Corporation, GPPC, and Matson were silver sponsors. And P&A Corporation, Laolao Bay Golf & Resort, McDonald’s Jose and Ruri Foundation, Y.K. Corp., Zoom Cafe, Artman Corp., and I Love Saipan were bronze sponsors.