Team NMI settling in Marshalls

MAJURO, Marshall Islands—Chef de mission Valerie Hofschneider welcomed the athletics and basketball teams Sunday night as the rest of Team NMI settles in Majuro, Marshall Islands for the 2024 Micronesian Games.

They join the other NMI athletes already there as they settle in for the first few days of games. The wrestling team will make their way to Majuro on the June 20.

The opening ceremony was held last Saturday and was led by NMI flag bearer Antonette Labausa and Hofschneider. Other Micronesian Islands joined in the festivities including host Marshall Islands, Guam, Kiribati, Palau, Nauru, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Yap.

Hofschneider said that, so far, the team is settling in nicely. “The team is doing well. Everything is provided. There’s some getting used to like the facilities. The showers and restrooms are separate, but so far overall, there hasn’t been any complaints. It’s just taking some getting used to,” she said. “It’s a different country so it’s a different lifestyle, which is fine.”

She said the only thing they had trouble with so far is transportation.

As for the swim team that medaled, she said, “it’s really fantastic. What a way to start the Games for us. Swimming has always been one of the strongest sports for us including beach volleyball.”

She said of the women’s volleyball team that competed the past couple of days, “this is the first time I’ve seen the team perform. Today, (Sunday) they performed pretty strong so hopefully tomorrow (yesterday) they show the same energy as they did.

As for her end as the chef de mission, she said, “the only stressful thing is transportation. I just need to be where all teams are playing to support everybody, but other than that, if I’m able to go where I need to go, then I’m happy and less stressed out. I’ll be able to just show our athletes that there’s somebody there for them and supporting them.”