Mini Games site visit tomorrow

Two Pacific Games Council officials will be arriving on Saipan tonight in time for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games site inspection tour tomorrow.

Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan and executive director Andrew Minogue are scheduled to touch down at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport at 6pm and will be welcomed by Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association president Michael White.

Then tomorrow, White will accompany the two officials to various sports facilities on island and he welcomes other local sports officials to join the visitors during the site inspection, which will start at 9am.

The group’s first stop will be the Marianas High School where the visitors are expected to check the MHS Gymnasium, the classrooms, which will provide accommodations for athletes, and the cafeteria.

From MHS, White and company will head to the Oleai Sports Complex, the home of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, the track and field facility, football field, and the two baseball fields. The visitors will also check the Kilili Beach Park, which is the suggested venue for the canoe races and sailing.

From Kilili Beach Park, the officials will go south to Hopwood Junior High School, which is also recommended to house delegates. Lakhan and Minogue will also take a look at the Pacific Islands Club (venue for tennis and beach volleyball), Koblerville (proposed soccer field) and Coral Ocean Point Resort (for golf) before heading back north to the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.

The group’s last stop will be the Laolao Bay Golf Resort, which is also being considered as venue for the golf competition.

After the visit, council officials will meet with the NMASA board later tomorrow night. Then on Thursday, Lakhan and Minogue are also scheduled to meet with the governor and lieutenant governor and members of the CNMI bid committee.

The two officials’ site inspection and meeting with concerned groups are vital in the Commonwealth’s bid to host the Mini Games in 2017.

“It is my understanding that this evaluation visit will result in a recommendation to the council, which will award the Games when it meets in New Caledonia on Sept. 4. I’m certain that their evaluation will be a major consideration for the members of the council,” White said in an email to NMASA members.

The CNMI is battling Vanuatu and Nauru for the Mini Games hosting rights.