Micronesian Games

The Micronesian Games (or "Micro Games") are a quadrennial international multi-sport event within the Micronesian region. The Games were first held in 1969 in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands). Saipan was also the host of the Games' most recent edition, in 2006. The 2010 Micronesian Games were initially due to be held in Majuro (Marshall Islands), until the hosts withdrew. The 2010 Games were hosted by Palau .[1]

History

After the inaugural 1969 edition, the Games were supposed to be a regular event. However, the second edition did not take place until 1990. Since then, the Games have been held every four years without fail.

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Editions

Year City Country Date Venue No. of
Events
No. of
Athletes
1 1969 Saipan Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Northern Mariana Islands 4-12 July
2 1990 Saipan  Northern Mariana Islands 7-15 July
3 1994 Agana  Guam 27 March - 2 April
4 1998 Koror  Palau 1-9 August
5 2002 Palikir  Pohnpei 21-30 July
6 2006 Saipan  Northern Mariana Islands 23 June - 4 July
7 2010 Koror  Palau 1-10 August
8 2014 Palikir  Pohnpei July
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Competitors

Participants include four sovereign countries (the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and Palau), a commonwealth in political union with the United States (the Northern Mariana Islands), an organized unincorporated territory of the United States (Guam), and the four constituent States of the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae and Yap, which compete separately from one another).

These ten countries, States and territories are all located within the Micronesian region of Oceania.

All participants also take part in the Pacific Games, although the Federated States of Micronesia competes as a unified country there.

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Events

Athletes compete in the fields of athletics, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, coconut tree climbing, coconut husking, fast pitch softball, golf, slow pitch softball, spearfishing, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, va'a canoe, volleyball and wrestling, as well as the "micro all around".

The Micronesian Games thus combine events that may be found in other international competitions with events more specific to Micronesian countries. Coconut tree climbing and coconut husking appear to have been demonstration events at the 2006 Games: they are listed as events on the Games' official website, but are not listed on the results and medals' page.

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References

  1. ^ "Palau to Host Micro Games in 2008", Marianas Variety, May 19, 2008
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External links

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Last modified on 4 May 2013, at 18:31