8th Micro Games 2014 - Opening Ceremony
/Hundreds gathered on Sunday, July 20, 2014 to witness the opening ceremony of the 8th Micro Games held in Pohnpei. Delegations and athletes from all parts of Micronesia marched among the Pohnpei track including representatives from Chuuk, Guam, Kiribati, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pohnpei and Yap to compete in sports ranging from basketball to spearfishing among others.
Following remarks given by Pohnpei State Governor John Ehsa and Federated States of Micronesia President Emmanuel "Manny" Mori, opening festivities included a flag bearing the Games' logo parachute-delivered by retired Pohnpeian U.S. Army Ranger, Major Tim Ohno, a traditional dance, tupwki parano, performed by Mwoakillese youth, sakau pounding and drinking and the theme song sung by Kitti Seventh-day Adventist youth.
The ceremony closed by the lighting of the torch, carried by some of Pohnpei's most successful athletes.
The Micro Games will last from Monday, July 21 to Wednesday, July 30.
The first Micronesian Games were held in 1969 in Saipan while the last one was held in Palau in 2010.
"That's what makes these Games for our islands on Pohnpei and the other visitors is to intermingle with each other because it's all different languages, all different cultures and sports is a great way to break the barriers of language and culture just to play. I think the success is all the islands win a fair share of the medals because they've all tried very hard. I think the success of the Games we will find out from our leaders after everyone goes home is how much they enjoyed the Games and maybe, if the Games are a success, then our local governments can reflect and make sports recreation and health prevention a higher priority in the funding of the governments," Micronesian Games Sports Director, Jim Tobin, told Radio New Zealand International.
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