PACNEWS
Picture: SUPPLIED
SAIPAN, 19 MAY 2021 (INSDIDE THE GAMES) Pacific Games Council (PGC) chief executive Andrew Minogue believes the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) can still host a successful Pacific Mini Games despite a challenging build-up.
The quadrennial Pacific Mini Games were pushed back from 2021 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were also placed into doubt after Super Typhoon Yutu caused widespread destruction in the CNMI in October 2018.
This led to the Government saying it would abandon staging the Pacific Mini Games to focus on the recovery, but the decision was later reversed. Minogue told RNZ that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics could prove key to international multi-sport events could be held.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago
The Pacific Mini Games are scheduled to take place in the Northern Marianas next June, having been delayed by 12 months because of the global pandemic.
With the infrastructure and accommodation already in place, officials are closely monitoring the Covid vaccine rollout across the region and the prospect of less border restrictions.
Pacific Games Council CEO Andrew Minogue believed the upcoming Olympics would be a major litmus test. I think the world is watching Tokyo to see whether a Games can be delivered, whether athletes can get in and out of a Games environment safely, he said.
FASANOC begins Chef de Mission search for major events in 2022 Friday, 5 February 2021
The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) has launched a search to find Chefs de Mission to lead the country s team at major events that are due to take place next year.
The FASANOC has re-advertised the position for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the postponed Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Mariana Islands.
It said it was looking for dynamic officials, who will oversee the Fijian team s preparation and participation at the three events.
First woman appointed as head of Pacific Games Organising Committee for 2023 Sunday, 10 January 2021
Shalom Akao Waita, a former Solomon Islands basketball and netball international, has become the first female chief executive of a Pacific Games Organising Committee, now overseeing preparations for the 2023 Games.
She represented the Solomon Islands at the 2005 Pacific Mini Games in Palau and the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
Waita was also a part of the Solomon Islands team management during the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. I wanted to be part of this, of being able to host the Games here and be part of the group, said Waita, according to
2023 Pacific Games Organising Committee CEO Shalom Akao Waita
Photo: Supplied
The former Solomon Islands basketball and netball international, Shalom Akao Waita, was appointed CEO of the 2023 Pacific Games Organising Committee in October. I wanted to be part of this, of being able to host the Games here and be part of the group, she said. Having done a lot of work in country with other sports organisations in both netball and now with Solomon Islands Tennis Association and seeing the development of athletes this is what attracted me.being able to showcase Solomon Islands and what we can do in delivering the Games.