Team Palau (yellow uniforms), the eventual gold medal winner, playing against Northern Mariana Islands in beach volleyball. Photo: Wilmer Joel. Photo: Wilmer Joel
The Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is blowing their medal tally out of the water, due to their strong swim team at the Micronesian Games.
The competition finally got underway on Saturday, after being put on hold for two years, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
They are taking place at Majuro in the Marshall Islands.
The competition is entering its sixth day with softball, volleyball, track and basketball taking place this week.
There are 10 islands competing, with 1457 athletes fighting for a medal, this year.
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine threw out the first pitch to launched the women's fastpitch softball tournament Monday. Photo: Chewy C. Lin
RNZ Pacific correspondent Giff Johnson said Northern Mariana Islands is dominating swimming.
"The Northern Marianas set a really high calibre swimming team, and they are just raking in the medals in the swim competition, I mean just blowing it sky high with their medals, amazing, amazing results."
The CNMI is sitting fourth on the medal table with 23 gold, 13 silver and 9 bronze medals so far.
Johnson said Palau is also performing well in specific sports.
''How about Palau winning gold in both the men and women's beach volleyball, and moreover it was defending their gold medal finish in 2018 Micronesian Games, so the Palauan's are showing that they're the champs for beach volleyball, hands down.
"They beat Guam and Nauru, the two different teams, to win gold, he said.
Palau is third on the table with 5 gold, 28 silver and 14 bronze medals.
Guam men's and women's 3x3 basketball teams that scooped gold medals in early competition last weekend. Photo: Hilary Hosia. Photo: Hilary Hosia
-Get the latest results here.