The CNMI has asked the Pacific Games Council to add tennis and weightlifting to the sports program for next year's Pacific Mini Games.
The Northern Marianas Sports Association said including tennis and weightlifting would boost the US territory's medal hopes in the quadrennial event.
CNMI tennis player Carol Lee is a member of the Pacific Oceania Fed Cup representative team. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Mark Rabago
The six sports originally proposed were athletics, baseball, badminton, beach volleyball, golf, and triathlon.
Pacific Games Council chief executive officer Andrew Minogue is amenable to the addition of tennis and weightlifting but it would add to the $US3 million price tag to stage the Mini Games.The CNMI was awarded hosting rights back in 2014 but the government withdrew their support in March after the destruction brought by Super Typhoon Yutu devastated Saipan and Tinian and ruined the local economy.
It only reconsidered after the Pacific Games Council agreed to stage a scaled-down Mini Games that decreased its cost from $US8 million.
Typhoon Yutu devastated Saipan and Tinian in 2018. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Mark Rabago