Palau will be sending over 200 athletes to compete in different sports events for the Micronesian Games which will be held in Yap from July 15 to 28.
Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) Secretary General and Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Baklai Temengil-Chilton said in an interview with Island Times on Wednesday that she is confident that Team Palau is already ready for the big event and their goal is to bring home medals.
Temengil-Chilton said that athletes are having nightly trainings on their respective sports events and that the PNOC is encouraging the communities to visit the team and give them the boost they need.
“Most of the athletes have not just been training now…these are the athletes that has been raised in Sports,” Temengil said.
“The Micronesian Games is the game where we have to achieve gold medals. This is the stepping stone for the Pacific Games and the Olympic Games in 2020,” she said.
According to the PNOC Secretary General, a $250,000 budget for the athletes is being proposed now.
The host country of the Micronesian Games charges a $35 fee per athlete per day which will be paid to the Yap Organizing Committee and this will go to their food and accommodations, among others.
The Micronesian Games, also known as Micro Games, is a multi-sport event within the Micronesia region that was first held in 1969 in Saipan. (Rhealyn C. Pojas/Reporter)