FSM National Olympic Committee held 2013 annual general meeting at new office complex

The new FSMNOC Office Complex  and Training Facility in Nett, Pohnpei

FSMIS (March 25, 2013): The FSM National Olympic Committee (FSMNOC) held its annual general meeting on March 19 at the FSMNOC Training Facility in Nett, Pohnpei – a few feet away from the Pohnpei Botanical Gardens.

The general meeting is held once a year, bringing together the officers of the national sport federations, the four state representatives on the FSMNOC and other sport and community leaders to review the past year’s activities, finance and budget matters, FSMNOC operations and projects and assist in planning for future undertakings.

The meeting started with the blessing of the new FSMNOC Office Complex by Rev. Norbert Kalau. The complex includes a 6-lane 25-meter competition swimming pool and a two-story office building. In July, 2012 the FSMNOC and Pohnpei State signed a 50 year lease agreement after years of negotiations, opening the way for the $150,000 worth renovation works on existing facilities funded by the Olympic Solidarity Olympoceania Grant, bringing vigor into the location that has become the operation site for the FSMNOC and the community swimming program that utilizes the renovated pool.

Several matters were discussed at the meeting with some reports by Mr. Jim Tobin, FSMNOC Secretary General, relating to FSM’s participation at the London 2012 Olympic Games, plans for the September 2013 Pacific Mini Games in Wallis and Futuna, status of the July 2014 Micronesian Games (MG) in Pohnpei and some discussions on why the FSM Games failed to take place this coming summer time.

The full day meeting also covered the January – December 2012 income/expense report by the NOC staff which showed a total of $709,217.00 from various grants and how each grant was expended within the one-year period. This amount also included a subsidy of $30,000 from the FSM Government.

As part of the meeting, the FSMNOC also organized other seminars from the afternoon of 19 to 22 relating to the organization of sport competition and administration of big games such as the Micronesian Games. At these seminars, Mr. Bill Kildermans, Chairman of the Micronesian Games Council, Mrs. Baklai T Chilton and Ms. Lulu Rivera from the Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) were instrumental in sharing Palau’s experiences in the organization of the 2010 Micronesian Games in Koror to help Pohnpei State gear up for their turn of hosting the Micronesian Games once more. Pohnpei State first hosted the MG in 2002. Mrs. Chilton is also the Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs in the newly started Tommy Remengesau Jr. administration in Palau.

The seminars were attended by Lt. Governor Marcello Petersen of Pohnpei State and various members of the 2014 Micronesian Games Organizing Committee.

The various FSM sport federations, such as the FSM Athletics Association, FSM Wrestling Federation, FSM Weightlifting Federation, FSM Basketball Federation, FSM Football (soccer) Federation, etc. also took the opportunity to hold federation meetings as some members from Kosrae, Chuuk and Yap were already in town per FSMNOC matters.

FSMNOC meeting participants included Manuel Minginfel, 4-time weightlifting Olympian and gold medalist in all of Oceania and the Pacific region, and Larry Uwelar, medalist in regional wrestling competitions, both from Yap.

The position of FSMNOC Vice President from Chuuk has not been filled since left vacant after the passing of one of FSM’s greatest athletes ever, Mr. Keitani Graham, who passed away on December 7 at his home State of Chuuk.

For more information, please write to fsmnoc@mail.fm or call the FSMNOC at 320-8914.