‘Avoid distraction’ First day of competition gets underway
TEAM Fiji athletes in the Pacific Mini Games in the Northern Marianas had been told to focus on the games instead of getting carried away by things happening around them.
TF general manager Lemeki Savou urged the athletes while leading their devotion yesterday.
He spoke to the athletes about distractions and the forms they take and what they can do, FASANOC Athletes’ Commission reported.
Team Fiji had its team assemly at the Games Village in Saipan this week where chef de mission Ajay Ballu presented the traditional
THE first events for the Pacific Mini Games have started in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, even as the final sporting contingents continue to arrive.
The games’ opening ceremony was on Friday but the first matches for tennis and baseball got underway yesterday.
RNZ Pacific’s correspondent in Saipan, Mark Rabago said baseball, in particular, is attire to flagbearer Naibili Vatunisolo. Naibili led Team Fiji in the opening ceremony last night.
The team assembly allowed athletes and officials to introduce themselves to each other and learnt a starting with an exciting match-up for the home crowd.
“Baseball will have its first game between Micronesian rivals, CNMI or team NMI, which is what they want to be called, and Guam, the defending gold medallists in the Pacific Games,” Rabago said.
The Pacific Mini Games involves around a thousand athletes from 20 Pacific Island little bit more about the team.FAC reported that Fiji was ready for action and Team Tennis was the first to compete yesterday.
Meanwhile, the games started with last night’s opening ceremony at the countries and territories competing in 9 sports from the 16th to the 25th of June.
Meanwhile, 80 athletes from French Polynesia have left for the Northern Marianas. The athletes will participate in eight disciplines out of the nine being contested.
The French Olympic Committee has spent more than $US$217,000 to get the delegation to the games.
Oleai Sports Complex.
The Marianas Variety reported that the opening ceremony featured NMI Athletes of the Year Zarinae Sapong and Jason Tarkong as the flagbearers of the Commonwealth during the presentation of the flags.
Following the invocation by Chalan Kanoa Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez, the Oath of Athletes and the Technical Official Oath was read by Kaya Rain Rasa and Antonio
Rogolifoi.
The opening remarks were delivered by Organising Committee chairman Marco Peter, Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan and Governor Ralph DLG Torres.
The lighting of the games cauldron was done by NMI Sports Hall of Famer Dr Kurt Barnes, who was one of the organisers of the 1969 Micronesian Olympics.
The ceremony ended with cultural performances.