CNMI proud and ready for Micro Games

With the recent notification from the Micronesian Games Organizing Committee that Saipan will host next summer’s 2006 Micronesian Games, local officials are driving to continue the momentum towards showcasing the CNMI as an athletic Mecca for all to enjoy.

After receiving the good news from the MGOC chairman Bill Keldermans via email, the next link in the chain of events is the formation of an organizing committee by top government officials.

“In order for us to have everything set up we need to set the protocol, we are making recommendations to the governor to be included in the Executive Order that he will be signing the first thing next week to put in the important organizations and setting up the organizing committee, and appointing the group of people to head off the various activities,” said Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Juan L. Babauta.

According to Babauta, Saipan has only taken the first steps down the road to hosting the Games, but the secretary feels that the CNMI is up to the challenge.

“Of course it’s really exciting and we’re proud to host. It’s going to be a challenge from here on—nine months down the road. We’ve got a lot of people supporting us hosting, looking at the economic impact, upgrading all of our sports facilities, and having new ones. Getting our resources together is a challenge that is coming ahead of us and we’re going to make it. With all of the support coming in from our elected leaders and the enthusiasm building up on this end, and from the athletes themselves—we’re making it happen for everybody. That’s something that we have committed ourselves to doing,” he said

One of the most vital details to the renovation and construction projects necessary for the international event remains the funding. Now that the green light has been given to the CNMI, the organizing officials will have to cut through the red tape to find the money.

“We’re making an official appearance with the CDA—which we have already started our conversation—and we’d like to officially formalize that, and also [work to find] other funding sources to include the capital improvement funding which we should be able to tap, as well as with the CDA. Once we organize that then we’ll ask our legislators for their assistance in reprogramming any money that’s available for the spectacle by investing in our facilities, investing in our people, and investing in our ability to host international and regional games,” said Babauta.

Wherever the money comes from, the secretary believes that just getting the word from the MGOC to host the Games is worthy of a notch in the win column for the CNMI, and he is appreciative of the help that has already begun to pour in from both the private and public sectors.

“I am very thankful for the support from the community. The athletes have won and our people have won.”