Many Marshall Islands Micronesian Games teams will receive a boost from talented Marshallese athletes living in America.
Multiple sports are expected to see incoming athletes join their teams.
The Micronesian Games Organizing Committee “will cover most of expenses for these athletes (i.e. travel and transit accommodation, including stipend),” said MGOC Co-Chair and Minister Tony Muller. “Once athletes get here, they’ll stay with sponsors until dorms at the Athletes Village open; we have three rooms available now that can accommodate 70 RMI athletes.”
Women’s basketball is anticipating five players will be coming in to bolster the ranks of the seven who will be chosen from the RMI to round out the team of 12 players. One — Mimo Jacklik, who recently signed a college scholarship to play basketball in the states — arrived earlier this month.
For men’s basketball, four players are expected to come from the US joining eight local players. Multi-Micro Games star point guard Lajji Maddison arrived this week.
The other players for both the men’s and women’s teams will arrive toward the end of May when school gets out.
The Micro Games is from June 15-24.
The canoe paddling event for the Micro Games might be dropped off the list of competitions for the June Games following the pullout of both the Guam and CNMI teams.
This latest yet still unofficial development was shared a few hours before the Journal went to press Wednesday at the monthly meeting of the Marshall Islands Chamber of Commerce. National Olympic Committee official Terry Sasser provided a brief update on developments during the Wednesday meeting at Marshall Islands Resort.
Although Micro Games organizers are trying to salvage the situation to keep canoe paddling on the program, Micro Games regulations state that at least four teams from different island nations must participate for a sports competition to take place.
RMI canoe paddlers have been working out since last year to get ready for the anticipated competition.
According to National Olympic Committee, men’s fast pitch softball might also be dropped off due to lack of teams lined up for the June 15-24 sub-regional competition.