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.
All-time medal table
Rank | Association | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Guam | 275 | 178 | 139 | 592 |
2 | Palau | 265 | 257 | 208 | 730 |
3 | Northern Mariana Islands | 186 | 197 | 150 | 533 |
4 | Marshall Islands | 128 | 103 | 131 | 362 |
5 | Pohnpei | 105 | 147 | 147 | 399 |
6 | Yap | 53 | 69 | 69 | 191 |
7 | Nauru | 52 | 18 | 20 | 90 |
8 | Chuuk | 38 | 45 | 72 | 155 |
9 | Kosrae | 19 | 19 | 55 | 93 |
10 | Ponape/Kusaie (defunct) | 17 | 16 | 10 | 43 |
11 | Kiribati | 2 | 19 | 15 | 36 |
Totals (11 entries) | 1140 | 1068 | 1016 | 3224 |
Editions
Edition | Year | Host | Start | End | Sports | Events | Nations | Top association | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | 1969 | Saipan, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands | July 4 | July 12 | 6 | Palau | |||
II | 1990 | Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | July 7 | July 15 | 7 | Guam | |||
III | 1994 | Hagåtña, Guam | March 26 | April 2 | 9 | Guam | [6] | ||
IV | 1998 | Koror, Palau | August 1 | August 9 | 9 | Nauru | |||
V | 2002 | Palikir, Pohnpei | July 21 | July 30 | 9 | Northern Mariana Islands | |||
VI | 2006 | Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | June 23 | July 4 | 9 | Guam | |||
VII | 2010 | Koror, Palau | August 1 | August 10 | 8 | Palau | |||
VIII | 2014 | Pohnpei, Pohnpei | July 20 | July 29 | 9 | Guam | [7] | ||
IX | 2018 | Yap, Yap | July 15 | July 27 | 10 | Palau | [8] | ||
X | 2024 | Majuro, Marshall Islands | Future event | [9] | |||||
XI | 2026 | Nauru | Future event | [10] |
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, association football, 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
References
- Carreon, Bernadette H. (May 20, 2008). "Palau to host Micro Games in 2010". Marianas Variety. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Monroyo, Roselyn (July 28, 2014). "Micro Games heading to Yap". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- Jaynes, Bill (July 31, 2014). "8th Micro Games now in the history books". Kaselehlie Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- Aisek, Otis (July 27, 2014). "Yap Wins Bid to Host the 2018 Micronesian Games". The Fourth Branch. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
- Micronesian Gams Council. "Past Games Results". Micronesian Games Council. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Branigin, William (April 4, 1994). "Foreign Journal". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- Monroyo, Roselyn (June 24, 2013). "Micro Games first payment due next month". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- "Micro Games 2018 - More Than Just Games". Archived from the original on August 17, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- "Sport: Marshall Islands to host 2022 Micronesian Games". Radio New Zealand. July 31, 2018. Archived from the original on September 11, 2020. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- "Sport: Nauru will host Micronesian Games for first time". Radio New Zealand. July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.