Majuro, Marshall Islands — Her Excellency President Hilda C. Heine officially opened the 10th Micronesian Games at the Jenrok Track & Field in Majuro on June 15, 2024. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first time the Republic of the Marshall Islands has hosted the Micronesian Games.
President Heine delivered her remarks during the opening ceremony, emphasizing the transformative power of sports and the positive changes it brings to our communities. She highlighted the profound impact of sports on societal development. In her speech, President Heine stated, “The return on investment in sport far outweighs the cost of the investment. We should recall that sport plays a critical role in promoting peace, solidarity, and respect. Recognizing this, the United Nations General Assembly included the importance of sport in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The 10th Micronesian Games in Majuro brings together athletes from across the Micronesian region in a celebration of sport, culture, and unity. The event showcases the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ commitment to promoting athletic excellence and regional cooperation.
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Statement of H.E. Hilda C. Heine
at the Official Opening of the
10th Micronesian Games
June 15, 2024
Majuro, Marshall Islands
Alii, Mogethin, Hafa Adai, Tirow, Ran Annim, Kaselehlie, Len Wo, Mauri, Ekamowir Omo, Iokwe and Welcome. Welcome one and all, welcome to our humble shores.
I join Reverend Note in thanking our Creator for this wonderful day, for His many blessings, and for this gathering of our Micronesian family!
Ij bok iien in emman im kobalok ibben Ri-kaki in Jemed ilo ad kile im kamoolol Eo ej Ri-komanman kin karok kein an romman nan kij armij, im kin kobatok in elap ibben rein mottad jen wod-en-bwil in Micronesia in.
Ao naan in kile nan Irooj im Lerooj ro ad rellap, Chairman im aolep ro ilo Imweo Imon Irooj, Lerooj Takbar Ishiguru im alap ro aeir bwirej in, Speaker ro ad im aolep ro ilo Nitijela im Kien eo ad, ekoba ro ilo Imon Ekajet ko ad, Ri-kaki im Kora in Ri-kaki ro ilo Kabun ko ad kajojo, ro ilo business sector eo im NGO ko bareinwot. Juon kile eo ejenoklok nan kom armij in Majol! Iokwe kom aolep bar juon alen.
President Simina and First Lady Simina, Honorable Governors, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Heads of Delegations, athletes, referees, officials, friends, and members of our Micronesian family.
I stand before you this evening as a proud Marshallese woman, a proud Micronesian woman, to welcome you again to the Marshall Islands, and to Majuro, our Capital.
The Micronesian Games bring together the very best athletes from our respective island homes to showcase the pinnacle of sports excellence in our region. These competitions serve as a critical platform to identify and nurture young talent, and to ensure increased sport participation in our Micronesian region.
Some may ask ‘why do we invest so much time, energy, and scarce resources in sports?’
We do this because sport promotes health and well-being. We do this because sport builds communities. We do this because sport is fun. Additionally, investment in sport should translate to a lower national health bill.
The return on investment in sport far outweighs the cost of the investment.
We should recall that sport plays a critical role in promoting peace, solidarity, and respect. Recognizing this, the United Nations General Assembly included the importance of sport in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. And I quote:
“Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and young people, individuals and communities as well as to heath, education and social inclusion objectives.
On that note, I wish to take this opportunity to thank our many development partners for their assistance to get us ready to host these Games. I wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Republic of China (Taiwan), the United States, Australia, India and Japan. Thank you so much for your kind and generous support.
To the traditional leaders, alaps, and leadership of Majuro, thank you for getting our Capital ready to host these Games.
To our friends on the United States Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, thank you for providing the swimming venue, and for hosting the teams on the Base.
To our local contractor PII, thank you for working 24/7 to get all our facilities ready in time for the Games, despite many challenges and obstacles.
To our local entertainers, thank you for showcasing our culture and pride.
To the many volunteers, thank you so very much for your dedication and hard work.
To the referees and officials, thank you for your athletic professionalism.
To the other Micronesian Games Committee, thank you for your pledge to bring your athletes to compete in these Games.
To the National Olympics Committee, thank you for going beyond the call to make this day a reality.
Finally, I wish to thank the president of our National Olympic Committee, and Chair of these Games, Minister Tony Muller and his family, for their single-minded determination and personal commitment to bringing these Games to our shores. Kommol Tony, Sharon and Dr. Yukiko.
Since the first Micronesian Games were launched in Saipan in 1969, the Marshall Islands hiped to one day host the Games. Fifty-five years later, here we are, finally!
I have thought long and hard why it has taken us this long to host the Micronesian Games, and the only logical conclusion I can come up with is cultural. In our Marshallese culture, being a host is a high honor that demands that you provide the very best for your guest.
Today, as we formally welcome you to our shores, we give you the highest assurance that we will do everything in our power to make your stay with us comfortable, safe and productive.
Now, I know that each of you individually, and each team, want to come out on top. And that is to be expected, Afterall, why invest so much time and energy if not to be number one?
But I take time to remind all of us of the importance of good sportsmanship, and why this concept underpins all noble athletic endeavors. Without good sportsmanship, athletic competition becomes just that, a mere competition.
What we all want to see is spirited competition and great sportsmanship.
To this end, I ask that we conduct ourselves with the highest degree of sportsmanship which will define our Micronesian unity and spirit.
It is now my honor and privilege to declare these 10th Micronesian Games, open.
Let the games begin!
Kom emool tata. Thank you
Photo courtesy: Chewy Lin
