The Oceania Athletics Association, along with their partners the Oceania National Olympic Committees and the Pacific Games Council, have hosted many conferences and sessions for athletes throughout the Oceania Region. However, this is the first time that they are bringing their purpose to the Pacific Mini Games hosted in Saipan by the Northern Mariana Islands. What is their purpose you might ask? It is to start conversations on educational topics that benefit athletes.
Facilitators of the sessions here at the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, Regan Kama and Alison Fairweather from the Oceania Athletics Association shared that the Oceania Athletics Association conducts annual reports every year and ‘Wellbeing’ became one of the recent topics that was concluded as being an important aspect when educating an athlete, today. Kama and Fairweather are joined by Ryan Pini who is a Pacific Games Council Executive Board Member, but what makes this position more meaningful for him is that his seat on the board was voted on by athletes. Pini mentioned the overall commitment, pride, and responsibility he has in ensuring the mindset of athletes are taken into consideration in all spectrums. It is only fitting that the time granted to these three facilitators is used for the sole purpose of educating an athlete by starting a conversation on a topic that has become so prevalent in today’s world.
‘Wellbeing’ has been an educational topic before the COVID-19 Pandemic, but since then has only become an even more pressing discussion (and will continue to be). Everyone struggles with the upkeeping and sustainment of their own personal wellbeing. Although perspectives and priorities are different between athletes and coaches, the pressure of fulfillment and experiences of difficulty/trial-and-error is one in the same. Kama, Fairweather, and Pini are here to get the conversation started. They strive to provide education on how to flourish back into positivity when athletes or coaches find themselves in a negative mindset. Although the conversations are starting here at the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games, it will not end here!
Another educational ‘Wellbeing’ session will be held for all athletes and coaches of all sports at 2:00 p.m. in the Grandvrio Conference Room, Grandvrio Hotel on Friday, June 24, 2022. All are encouraged to participate!
Events like the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games are an opportunity for athletes from various different walks of life to compete with other talented competitors. These athletes do so with their own hard work and dedication, and it is imperative that they are all competing on equal and fair terms. The use of performance-enhancing drugs compromises the integrity of these events and it is important that we ensure that no contestant has an unfair advantage over another.
During the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022, anti-doping procedures and programs have been put into place to prevent the use of these substances. Using the Pacific Mini Games council’s rules and regulations, the Oceanic Regional Anti-Doping Organization (ORADO) is in charge of the anti-doping and testing programs for the 2022 Pacific Mini Games.
With the help of Voice of the Athletes, ORADO has set up the Play True Pasifik Outreach Program, a program meant to spread awareness and information on anti-doping and the rules and regulations. You can learn more at the Doping Control Stations located at Marianas High School nursing stations, the Marianas High School Gym, Pacific Islands Club, and Grandvrio Resort.
In addition to their Outreach Program, ORADO partnered with ONOC Oceania Sport Education Program to educate, train, and help local persons become certified Doping Control Officers and Chaperones.
Media Release 6/21/2022 Para-Athletes Program Continues With Success!
The world of competitive sports is a great opportunity for people to show their mettle. Through discipline and hard work, these competitors go above and beyond, achieving phenomenal feats of athletics. No group exemplifies this principle more so than the para-athletes. Through their determination and diligence, these athletes have overcome great mental and physical obstacles, proving that their disabilities will not hold them back. We have the honor and privilege of having these para-athletes competing in the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games.
June 17th marked the opening ceremony of the 2022 Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games. During which, one of the para-athletes from Fiji was their team’s flag bearer and led their team through the opening ceremony. They were only one out of a total of 31 para-athletes participating in this year’s mini games. These competitors come from the countries of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Australia, and the Solomon Islands.
All of our para-athletes will be performing in the Athletics division of the mini games. They will be competing in events such as the Shot Put, Javelin Throw, and 100m sprint. You can view these extraordinary athletes compete today at 4:00 PM and 3:00 PM every other day, with the rest of the athletics events. The Men’s 100 Metre Sprint Ambulant will take place at 7:05 PM on June 21st, with the Women’s 100 Metre Sprint Ambulant taking place the following day at 6:50 PM. You can watch the Ambulatory Men and Women’s Javelin Throw at 3:15 PM on June 23rd. On June 24th, you will be able to watch the Men and Women’s Wheelchair Shot Put Secured Throw at 3:15 PM and the Men and Women’s Shot Put Ambulant.
These athletes inspire our viewers, as they redefine what a few may consider obstacles and challenges our beliefs regarding disabilities.
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photo provided by Robin Sapong: Para-Athlete Christian Chee Ayee
PGC President Vidhya Lakhan and CEO Andrew Minogue have conducted their final inspection visit to Saipan in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) – the host of the 2022 Pacific Mini Games from 17-25 June.
From 19-21 April, President Lakhan and CEO Minogue attended numerous meetings, including a courtesy call on the CNMI Governor, the Hon. Ralph Torres; a board meeting of the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 Games Organising Committee (NMPMG 2022) chaired by Mr Marco T. Peter; as well as a meeting with the Executive Board of the host Pacific Games Association (NMSA), chaired by Mr Jerry Tan.
Individual meetings were also held by the PGC delegation with each of the competition managers and venue managers for the nine sports on the Pacific Mini Games program. This included visits to each of the Saipan-based competition venues, all of which are either ready now, or their renovations will be completed by late May. Visits were also made to both Athletes’ Village sites (the Grandvrio and PIC hotels) as well as to the media and Games results centre. Meetings were also held with the key NMPMG 2022 staff, including CEO Ben Babauta and his operational directors, to ensure that the final planning for Games services like accreditation, transport, sports are on track.
In comments to the local media at the final press conference, President Lakhan said,
“I am pleased with the state of preparations for the 11th Pacific Mini Games. All the stakeholders are working well together to deliver the venues and operational plans. While work remains to be done to complete the preparations, including on the visa entry process for several countries, the PGC now expects the CNMI will be ready to host a successful Pacific Mini Games in June. On behalf of the PGC, I sincerely thank Governor Torres and his Administration for the outstanding support they are providing to NMSA and NMPMG 2022 to be able to successfully host the 11th Pacific Mini Games despite the trials of the Covid-19 pandemic and the super typhoons which setback preparations in 2018/19. I now urge our 24 PGA members across the Pacific to do their utmost to send their largest possible delegations of athletes in a show of support and solidarity to our hosts in the CNMI and their populations across Saipan, Rota and Tinian”.
The NMPMG2022 will be holding events throughout the NMI, including Rota. “The Municipality of Rota and her people proudly welcome our fellow brothers and sisters from all over Oceania with over 2,000 athletes, coaches, officials, and their families,” said Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig.
With the Games being held in the NMI for the first time, Rota will have its place in Games history hosting events located on its beautiful island. “Our people are deeply humbled as the Municipality of Rota will have a role in this historic event carrying the mantel of legacy like many of our fellow Oceania participating countries before us,” stated Mayor Atalig.
“The recent statement from Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig pledging Rota’s support and excitement to play a role in the NMIPMG2022, has me beaming with pride. I am honored to call the NMI home. The hospitality and national pride of the NMI people are the tenets that embody the very spirit of the Pacific Mini Games, said PMG Chairman Marco Peter.
Chairman Peter further added, “The NMPMG2022 is the perfect opportunity for our NMI people to share our culture and open our homes to visiting countries and learn about their different cultures and customs, all while bonding over athleticism and competition.” “On behalf of the good people of Rota, we wish all of our participating athletes good luck and have fun,” said Mayor Atalig.
As preparations are under way for the NMPMG2022, the NMI people have demonstrated that they are One Marianas pulling together to host a historical event and showcase the talent, hospitality, and beauty of the NMI.
