Micronesian Games

The Micronesian Games (or "Micro Games", "MicroGames") are a quadrennial international multi-sport event within the Micronesian region. The Games were first held in 1969 in Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands). 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] The Federated States of Micronesia won the bidding to host the 2014 Micronesian Games in Pohnpei State, and later won again against CNMI for the 2018 Micronesian Games to be held in Yap State.^{[2] [3][4]}

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.

Editions

Edition	Year	City	Country	Date	Venue	No. of Events	No. of Athletes
I	1969	Saipan	Northern Mariana Islands	4–12 July
II	1990	Saipan	Northern Mariana Islands	7–15 July
III	1994	Agana	Guam	27 March - 2 April
IV	1998	Koror	Palau	1–9 August
V	2002	Palikir	Federated States of Micronesia	21–30 July
VI	2006	Saipan	Northern Mariana Islands	23 June - 4 July
VII	2010	Koror	Palau	1–10 August
VIII	2014	Pohnpei	Federated States of Micronesia	20–29 July[5]
IX	2018	Yap	Federated States of Micronesia	July	Yap Sports Complex

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.

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.

See also

• Pacific Games
• Athletics at the Micronesian Games

References

1. "Palau to Host Micro Games in 2008", Marianas Variety, May 19, 2008
2. "Micro Games heading to Yap - Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan Tribune". Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads | Saipan Tribune. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
3. "Kaselehlie Press - 8th Micro Games now in the history books". www.kpress.info. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
4. "Yap Wins Bid to Host the 2018 Micronesian Games". The Fourth Branch. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
5. Micro Games first payment due next month by Roselyn Monroyo, Saipan Tribune. Published 2013-06-24, retrieved 2013-06-24.

External links

• Micronesian Games (website under construction)