In the roaring sixties Micronesian-island nations worried about their people to cope with the ever changing world and introduced the Micronesian Games to help developing the states and to show that the islands are a joined unit. The first Games successfully started in July 1969 and brought together athletes only from the Micronesian territory. It was mainly man competing in disciplines like baseball, basketball, canoe racing, tennis, and table tennis. To display the cultural and historical ties a special sport was created – the Micronesian All-Around Competition. Islanders matched skills in such events like coconut tree-climbing, coconut husking, spear throwing, swimming, and diving.
Only 21 years later the Second Games were initiated by Mobil Oils with the aim of community development. The major components of the First Games, namely unity and friendship, had survived intact, and in the 1990 Games athletes again convinced with a true spirit and a sports competition that had fostered cultural exchange and the sharing of common values. More than 900 athletes, coaches, and officials were competing in the same sports, with one minor change. The 1969 Games included canoe sailing and canoe paddling whereas the sailing event was lacking interest in thus excluded in the Second Games. Being a great success, a permanent Micronesian Games committee was formed after the 1990 Games. It aimed at a third edition of the games in 1994. Guam hosted those Third Games with a stunning participation of 1,500 athletes. For the first time, women’s basketball, softball, and men’s weightlifting were added. The Micronesian All-Around was modified for women substituting coconut grating for coconut husking.
Today, the Games bring together an ever growing number of athletes in 13 different sports. In 1998 the Micronesian Games were held by Palau Palau
Let the Games begin or better: Let the Games continue!
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