Mini Games Preps Slow: Lakhan
“We firmly believe that the 24 island nations will be there for the Games but the size of the Games in terms of numbers taking part could be much lower than what one could expect of the normal Pacific Mini Games,” Lakhan said.
Saturday 25 April 2020 | 13:32
The coronavirus pandemic has affected the build-up of the 2021 Saipan Mini Games, says Pacific Games Council president Vidhya Lakhan.
He said organisers would assess the preparations in Saipan once travel restrictions are lifted, if the games are safe to go ahead.
However, the council is hopeful that all participating nations will be able to attend the 11th Pacific Mini Games.
“We firmly believe that the 24 island nations will be there for the Games but the size of the Games in terms of numbers taking part could be much lower than what one could expect of the normal Pacific Mini Games,” Lakhan said.
“As organisers we want to have a big Games but we have to be mindful of what is happening around us,” Lakhan said.
“Other challenges participating nations would be facing and what would be their difficulties so the prime objective will be to ensure that all the countries are there and the bigger the delegation the better it is for us.
“But if the delegations are smaller, we will understand.”
While the dates of the Games are yet to be confirmed, there is a possibility to hold it after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which is from July 23 to August 8, 2021.
“As soon as travel restrictions are uplifted we hope to make a quick trip to Saipan to assess their readiness to host the games, to see the Games can be held in May or June or do we have to look at alternative dates, may be after the Olympic dates, which is a possibility.”
Six sports are confirmed to be played and additional sports should go through the proper channels if they may need to be added.
The council was approached to have weightlifting as the seventh sport, however, the host nation was told that it would depend on their preparations and the General Assembly in September.
“At the moment we are still with six sports.
“I guess this could be confirmed by September, provided we have the coronavirus pandemic under control and we are able to meet in the general assembly in Saipan in September.
“They did approach the council, and wanted to add weightlifting, this was when we visited them in February.
“But the process for adding another sport to the Games programme it will have to go to our annual General Assembly,” Lakhan added.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
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