Nine sports eye 2010 Palau Micronesian Games

The CNMI will be well represented in the 2010 Micronesian Games after nine sports federations signified their plans of sending teams to the quadrennial event in Palau.

In a Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association meeting earlier this month, its president Michael White reported that six organizations have already submitted their intent in writing that they wish to take part in the Games, with three more sports verbally committing.

“We have heard from athletics, spearfishing, tennis, swimming, baseball, and basketball. So as far as I’m concerned those are the only sports that are going…” White said.

But before the NMASA president was finished with his Palau Micro Games update, Russ Quinn, who sits on both boards of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Association and Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association, said that triathlon and volleyball—both indoor and outdoor—will be sending teams to Palau in 2010.

A total of 15 sports will be offered in the 2010 Palau Micronesian Games, including possible gold-medal rich events for the CNMI like baseball, tennis, swimming, and triathlon.

Other sports that the 2010 Palau Micronesian Games Organizing Committee intends to put in the calendar in 2010 are athletics, basketball, Micro All-Around, outrigger canoe, spearfishing, fast-pitch softball, table tennis, weightlifting, beach and indoor volleyball, and wrestling.

According to NMASA ethnic Micronesians, wherever born, can compete for the CNMI if they reside in the islands, and have resided anywhere in Micronesia (Guam, CNMI, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Island, Kiribati, or Nauru) for at least three years up to the start of the Games.

It added that other nationalities, regardless of ethnicity, can compete for the CNMI if they reside in the Commonwealth, and have resided anywhere in Micronesia for at least seven years up to the start of the Games. Temporary absences for school or military service also do not count against the residence requirement.

The CNMI netted the most medals in the 2006 Micro Games which it hosted. Commonwealth teams were able to bring in 35 gold, 33 silver, and 31 bronze medals for a total of 99 medals.

Guam, meanwhile, had the most gold in the Saipan Micro Games with 51 and finished with the second most total medals with 96, while Palau finished in third in the gold medal race with 27, while hauling a total of 64 medals.

The Micronesian Games began in 1969 as the Micronesian Olympics on Saipan. It made a return in 1990 on Saipan again before moving to Guam in 1994 and to Palau in 1998. Pohnpei hosted the 2002 Games. The CNMI hosted the 2006 edition of the Games only following the withdrawal of Chuuk.