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 set back 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”.
Press Release from Pacific Games Council.