Golf in limbo for Micro Games?

This summer’s Micronesian Games might not have golf in its list of sporting events, according to an official of the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association.

NMASA official Jess Wabol told the Saipan Tribune yesterday that failure to attract more participants for the sport could result in its scrapping in this year’s quadrennial games.

Wabol said that currently only Guam and the CNMI have expressed interest in competing in the sport.

“If only CNMI and Guam [are going to play], then I don’t think we can have it because we go by team and individual [competition] and actually, there won’t be much competition if there’s only two.”

During NMASA’s January meeting, NMASA president Michael White explained to representatives of sports federations that to his understanding, in order for the sport to be held, it must be active in at least half of the countries participating in the Games.

White, however, reiterated that the Micronesian Games Council should first approve all of sports proposed for the Games.

Meanwhile, Wabol said he is trying to get in contact with officials from Nauru and Kiribati to confirm if the two countries will or will not compete in the sport. He does not anticipate teams from Palau or the Federated State of Micronesia to send golf delegations, as both countries do not have golf courses.

I know Nauru usually has a team,” he said. “Palau is planning to come up with golf course…there is no [golf] course in Palau, not even Pohnpei. [Even though] they’re ideal for golf.”

Nonetheless, Wabol said a golf qualifier for the Micro Games would still be held next month and he indicated that if the CNMI team formed for the Micro Games does not get a chance to compete, it will continue with training in preparation for next year’s South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.

“Everybody has been pushing but I told them there’s no sense to get a team together for Micro Games and then not compete. I informed Mike [White] that we’re going ahead next month regardless if we’re not going to play in the Micro Games. Whatever team we assemble for the Micro Games, that team will also represent CNMI in the Samoa Games in 2007.

Other sports expressing concern of possibly not competing due to number of participating countries include triathlon and sailing.

The Micro Games will be held from June 23 to July 7 on Saipan with about 1,500 to 1,700 athletes, coaches, and officials expected to take part.

The Games was originally set to be held in Yap, however, destructive typhoons damaged sports facilities that resulted in the Games being up for grabs. The CNMI jumped at the opportunity to host the Games during last year’s South Pacific Mini Games in Palau and was granted.

The Games was first held in 1969 in the CNMI. The CNMI hosted the event in 1990, with Guam taking 1994 and Palau 1998. The 2002 Games was held in Pohnpei.