‘The future of NMI sports is very bright’

“The future of NMI sports is very bright,” said Northern Marianas Sports Association president Jerry Tan during the athletes’ appreciation dinner last Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.

In his remarks before cash incentives were given to the 2023 Pacific Games medalists, Tan said, “We are very, very proud of Team Marianas… people don’t realize that athletes don’t just show up and go for the games. They have to train. Some of them train everyday. So, it’s a lot of commitment and hard work that makes you an NMI athlete.”

He said, “The performance was just unbelievable. The NMI actually is considered one of the smallest members with a 45,000 population. You’re competing against nations with populations in the millions… so, I just want to point out to all of you—and governor—that not only did we medal and break a Pacific Games record, we brought a very, very young team. There’s a lot of young athletes in this group. Thank you, [Public School System interim Education] commissioner [Donna Flores], for allowing them to travel.”

After the presentation of incentives, Team NMI chef de mission Nick Gross made his remarks choked up, with tears in his eyes.

He first cracked jokes and said he had flashbacks to being back in Honiara as the athletes in attendance were a sea of blue in Team NMI shirts.

Toward the end of his speech, the PSS Athletics Program director said Team NMI’s successes and record-breaking performances does not end there as, “It never ends. It’s a perpetuating circle. Do your part. Support kids’ programs, come out, make tomorrow and just keep plugging away.”

In the near future, there are other competitions for the NMI’s athletes to look forward to—the Micro Games next year in the Marshall Islands, the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, and the other numerous regional and international competitions on the individual level.

Gross also broke down the 2023 Pacific Games theme of “Challenge, Celebrate, and Unite.”

With “challenge,” he said, “Along with all the great, fantastic things, there were a few barriers, a few things that came up. Transportation seems to be a recurring theme, incessant heat… tough conditions… we had some things that got in our way for success, but in the end, we absolutely rallied.”

For the word “celebrate,” Gross said, “I’m so proud of the performances put forth by the team and the support that we showed for one another throughout the two weeks… It’s hard to focus—it’s hard to dig down and do what you know you have to do but we did it. We played incredibly at all levels. So, the celebration really belongs to everybody in this room. Our sponsors, thank you so very much for making it possible. But it is extended to the entire Northern Marianas, those that are here today, those that are everywhere around the world. I hope that it is a proud, proud accomplishment.”

As for “unity,” Gross said, “These Pacific Games allow the vast region of Oceania to come together and truly unite through our love of sport and the sharing of our cultures on a four-year basis. Don’t think four years is so far out there. It will be here in the blink of an eye… We need the sponsors, and we need the CNMI, we need our athletes, and we need everybody in this room to grab somebody else to come along for the ride.”

After Gross’ almost 15-minute speech, he was met with cheers and a standing ovation.

For Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ part, he congratulated the medalists and the team on their accomplishments. “This is the most successful team we’ve ever sent to the Pacific Games, so congratulations Team Marianas!”

“To all our gold medalists, and all our medalists, the Commonwealth is very, very proud of you. To all the participants, for all your hard work to represent the Commonwealth, thank you very much. We are very, very proud of you… I know you had some challenges, but I guess that goes with most Games, and we’re glad you’re all safe back home after representing your Commonwealth in this Pacific Games. A lot of our young athletes are most likely to represent again in the next Pacific Games or the next Mini Games. So again, from a very proud community, congratulations and thank you, athletes for representing your Commonwealth very well in the 2023 Pacific Games,” he said.

The event was attended by Team NMI athletes and officials of the 10 sports federations, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, interim Education commissioner Donna Flores, Northern Marianas Sport Association board president Jerry Tan and board members, and representatives of the team’s sponsors from Joeten Daidai Foundation, Triple J, Crowne Plaza Resort, IT&E, IP&E, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Mobil, Tan Holdings, and McDonald’s of Guam & Saipan.