Team NMI settles in Honiara

HONIARA, Solomon Islands—All roads lead to the south Pacific in Honiara, Solomon Islands as they host the Pacific Games for the first time.

Ninety-five NMI athletes made it on the four-hour charter flight that also flew Guam and American Samoa athletes Wednesday afternoon.

Only one NMI athlete, va’a’s Michael Peter, couldn’t make it to the scheduled charter and there are six more athletes flying in on their own later.

NMSA president Jerry Tan said his well wishes and good luck to the team on the plane before departure and said, “I just want to wish everyone a safe trip… I just want to make sure all of you enjoy the experience. Play hard and I know that you are all going to do your very best—but most important, make the CNMI proud.” He also said good luck to team Guam and American Samoa.

Nick Gross, the team’s chef de mission, was interviewed before landing in Honiara and said the process with the charter flight “went pretty well.”

“It took a little longer than expected but with a charter flight and the unknowns that we were kind of getting into regarding some of the processes, in the end, I think it worked out fine… the way that everything was arranged through POI and Solomon Airlines, with Northern Marianas Sports Association’s support putting things together—I thought that went pretty well. I think all in all it’s gone well.”

As for the convenience of charter flights and now that the NMI has debuted with flying in one, he said, “I hope that we can continue to entertain charters moving forward with Team Marianas. This was a big year obviously and the other competitions coming up, I don’t know if that’d warrant a full charter as far as the Micronesian Games and the Pacific Mini Games in 2025, but certainly the bigger events maybe the in Tahiti in 2027 that I think there’s a great opportunity to do that.”

He added, “I hope things go as smoothly on our return to the Marianas as it did heading here. Being out of the country, it may be a slightly different system to kind of navigate, but hopefully by then, we’re heavy with medals and won’t be too concerned with the process.”

Once the flight landed, Team Marianas was greeted warmly by the host with welcomes and banners that bore the Pacific Games 2023 logo. All around, the spirit of the Games was seen from the local press that awaited the team outside, the Games banners that adorn the airport and surrounding areas, and the participating country’s flags blowing in the breeze.

When Jersh Angeles, national soccer team assistant coach, was asked how he liked the flight, he said it’s much better and faster than his previous flights that went as long as two days. He said the direct flight is much easier on the athletes because they get sick or too fatigued on the longer ones.

Zhimin Jin, national team golfer, also said she liked that the flight was short and smooth. As for her impression of the island upon arrival, she said she’s seen pictures before and that it’s about the same as she’s expected it to be. She added that the people who greeted the team at the airport were genuine with their kindness.

After a few minutes wait in the shuttles that took them to the village—and despite no internet connection or phone service, plus the downpour of rain and fear of contracting malaria from mosquitoes—Team Marianas finally made it to their designated Athletes Village in the Solomon Islands National University Kukkum.

There was no time to explore the sports facilities and venues as the sun was setting while the athletes unpacked in their rooms, but from the highways on the way to the village, ooh’s and aah’s were heard from the athletes as the shuttle drivers pointed their brightly lit fields and courts out.

The NMI team managed to get a few moments of Wi-Fi connection at the main mess hall that night where all participating countries eat lunch and dinner together. After almost a full day of traveling that began with boarding in the early morning, Team Marianas finally settled into their rooms ready to take on the next day.