CDM appointed.
In October 2009, KAA Secretary, David Little, was appointed by KNOC as the Chef de Mission to the 7th. Micronesian Games to be held in Palau in 2010. He contacted all the eligible (staged) sports to test their interest in participating. The replies showed great enthusiasm but over-optimistic numbers, considering the logistics of travel, visas, per diems, etc. A total of more than 100 people in the delegation would have needed about AUD 300,000 in Government funding, requested by the early submission of a Proposal Document (ProDoc). These numbers, in terms of the transport (airline seats, etc.) required were much too ambitious !
CDM delayed !
As you can read elsewhere on this web-site, the Secretary was unfortunately delayed for medical reasons in U.K. from December 2009 to May 2010. When he knew that the problem was relatively long-term, he contacted KNOC and requested that someone else take on the task of costing and beginning the process of compiling a ProDoc, etc.
NOTHING DONE !
When he returned to Kiribati late in May, 2010, he found that NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE, either by the KNOC members or by the sports federations who were so anxious to take part ! Even at this stage, he tried to pick up the pieces by contacting air lines, U.S. Embassy in Majuro, the Games organisers in Palau, etc.
Obviously funding would be a major issue, but the major stumbling block at this stage was that it would not be possible to transport a team from Majuro (after picking up U.S. visas) to Palau, via Guam, due to there being no spare seats on Continental. With this kind of block, there was no point in pursuing that route. Too late in the piece, David was advised about a new Palau-based airline, Pacific Flier, with a route direct from Gold Coast to Palau, not touching Guam. (The main benefit of this route is that it requires NO U.S. VISA in advance to enter Palau.) By now it was too late to organise funding or a team.
COUNCIL MEETING.
The other event which happens during the period of these Games is a quadrennial Council Meeting. Thus it was decided that David would travel to Palau to represent Kiribati at this Games Council Meeting on August 8th.
In spite of the cancellation of the Pacific Flier flight from Gold Coast to Palau on August 2nd., and the consequent re-routing via MANILA, he nevertheless eventually made it to Palau by the evening of August 4th.
Surviving the rain and relishing being present at a major Pacific event, he enjoyed the Athletics competitions and attended the Council Meeting.
M.G. COUNCIL MEETING.
Most of the business was completed in a short time. The agenda items which provoked the longest discussions were:-
(a) Wrestling wanting to "follow the I.F. guidelines" enabling a Wrestling competitor to be the only person reporting for that event, having no contest, but being rewarded with a gold medal. Despite strong opposition from other sports, they eventually won the day and had wording included in the new MGC Charter which allows "medals to be awarded according to the normal practise of that I.F."
(b) Making the Charter less prescriptive e.g. in use of the word "should" instead of "shall", e.g. in the desired facilities required to stage a Games.
(c) A Bid Presentation by Pohnpei for the 8th. Games in 2014. This was in the form of a Power-Point set of slides, supported by speeches from Pohnpei supporters and a Bid Booklet. They were unopposed and will stage the next Games.
(d) New sports to be added to the programme because they have three or more countries involved, i.e. Archery and Taekwondo. It was noted that Beach Wrestling was included as another discipline within the framework sport.
(e) There is a minimum of five and maximum of fifteen sports which can be offered by a host country, both in its bid and in reality. Pohnpei intends to offer thirteen.
(f) The fact that the Treasurer was not present nor submitted a formal Statement or Report did not seem to present a problem to the members, but cannot give a clear picture or be seen to be transparent. There are two accounts in the name of the MGCouncil. In one the balance is USD 3638. However, the balance in the other (Bank of Hawaii) is unknown ! More disturbing is the fact that a large sum (USD 15000 ?) is still owing from members for Membership Fees. The Charter requirement for the Treasurer to issue annual statements of dues to every country has not been followed for many years. There was an assurance given here that this "chase-up" would be regularised and implemented in future.
(g) The elections did not take a long time and required no voting except approval of the nominees. The President remains Bill Keldermans (Palau). The new Secretary-General is Terry Sasser (RMI), and the new Treasurer is Bob Steffy (Guam). Their term of office is until the end of the next Games in 2014.
(h) There was a reasonable debate about a new MGC logo. A number of designs had been submitted and the members accepted a simple design including a double linked sail and ten stars.
(i) Apart from other minor corrections to the wording of the new Charter, it was eventually accepted unanimously, with thanks to Mike White who had largely compiled it.
(j) The next Meeting should be in 2011, probably in Pohnpei.
Last Modified on 09/08/2010 16:36