OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands National Olympic Tokyo2020 Olympic Games, have committed Committee’s (MINOC) Executive Board and the for Tomorrow program to contribute National Federations would like to extend their to the future through the power of sport. heartfelt kommol tata (thank you very much) Toward this effort, MINOC Executive Board to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Minister Tony Muller participated in President Thomas Bach; Association of the “Discovery Camp: Tomorrow’s Friends National Olympic Committees (ANOC) Program – Delegation Management is the Key President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah to Success” which was hosted by JOC and and Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg; Japan Sport Council (JSC). This particular Olympic Solidarity Director Pere Miro, Nicole camp was focused specifically for , to Girard-Savoy and the Olympic Solidarity and promote successful preparation to lead NOC Relations staff; the Rio Organizing delegations to large multi-sport events like Committee; Oceania National Olympic the and the Olympic Games, Committees (ONOC) President Dr. Robin especially Tokyo2020. Mitchell, Secretary General Ricardo Blas, Executive Director Dennis Miller, the Executive Board and staff; and the Marshall Islands National Government. Our Olympic family is diverse but united together under the common goal of excellence in sport and, without everyone’s partnership and support, our programs would not be so successful.

MINOC hosted its second IOC Basic Sport Medicine Course through Olympic Solidarity with support from the ONOC Medical Commission (special thanks to Dr. Robin Mitchell, Dr. Chris Milne and Meli Cavu) and administrative oversight by the Marshall Islands Sport Education Program (MISEP). Regional experts Dr. Luis Cruz of Guam and Physiotherapist Cathy Wong of Fiji are both specialists in their fields and members of the The Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) and ONOC Medical Commission. We selected the Japanese Government, in the lead up to the

94 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Sport Oceania’s (WASO) Helen Brownlee, it was an exciting day of promoting both the Olympic movement and the increased participation of girls and women in both the practice and administration of sport. We must also thank Minister Amenta Matthew of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for her continued support and commitment to the promotion of women in sport. Additional thanks to WASO and athletics, and sport coordinators for for the qualification support grant awarded to after-school programs successfully Mattie Sasser in her efforts to qualify for the completed the one-week course and received Rio Olympic Games. their certificates.

To summarize the Rio Olympic experience in a short paragraph would be impossible, but the highlights must include: the Team Welcome Ceremony where Chef de Mission Mack Capelle greeted the Mayor of the Olympic Village and the entire Marshall Islands’ delegation stood proud as our anthem resounded and our flag was raised. During the Opening Ceremony over three following IOC Consensus statements to MINOC Secretary General and weightlifting billion viewers worldwide watched as flag include in our training: Sudden Cardiovascular head coach Terry Sasser’s project earned bearer, weightlifter Mattie Sasser, and 100m Death in Sports, Training the Elite Child honors at the final presentation in Lausanne sprinter Richson Simeon led Marshall Islands’ Athlete, and Fitness and Health in Young of the International Coaching Enrichment delegation into the arena wearing traditional People through Physical Activity and Sport. Certificate Program (ICECP), an intensive Jobwa costumes provided by Irooj Senator We also specifically requested topics nine-month coaching program through the US Michael Kabua, followed by delegates and including sports massage, physiotherapy and Olympic Committee, University of Delaware fellow athletes Giordan Harris, Colleen prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of and Olympic Solidarity. It was a great Furgeson and Mariana Cress. Marshall sports injury. Dr. Cruz presented sessions experience, with top professionals from Islands took a lead role helping to organize related to the Olympic Movement Medical around the world, of which more of our the other Oceania countries to carry forward Code, medical history taking (using IOC’s Oceania family should take advantage. the climate campaign “1.5°C the record we Periodic Health Evaluation (PHE) form), Special thanks are extended to President must not break” that was initiated in Marshall sudden cardiovascular death in sport, training Lawrence Probst, Carolina Bayon and Islands, a member of the Climate Vulnerable the elite child athlete and the importance of Dragomir Cioroslan of USOC, Dr. Matthew Forum, prior to the Games by H.E. President sport and physical activity to establish a Robinson of the University of Delaware, Heine in support of the United Nations Paris foundation for lifelong fitness and health in President Dr. Ajan and staff of IWF and Carina Agreement. young people. For Dr. Cruz’s final session, he Dragomir of Olympic Solidarity. collaborated with Ms. Wong for an injury diagnosis session. Physio Cathy Wong led A Women’s Sports Festival was held in practical sessions on basic physiotherapy, conjunction with Marshall Islands’ celebration management of soft tissue injuries, sports of Olympic Day. Activities included a 5k run, massage, stretching and flexibility exercises Zumba, a beach volleyball tournament and and strapping, both for injury prevention and weightlifting and basketball clinics. MINOC for stabilization after an injury. Twenty Vice President for Women’s Development participants from the Ministry of Health, the Deborah Shoniber gave special remarks and Ministry of Education, nursing students from College of Marshall Islands nursing students the College of the Marshall Islands, national provided basic health screenings. Thanks to President Kenneth Kramer attended the ANOC federations, coaches and athletes for the financial support from IOC and Women and Finance and Audit Commission meeting and sports of weightlifting, volleyball, basketball

95 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

then joined MINOC executives Terry Sasser and Robert Muller for the XXI ANOC General Assembly in Doha, Qatar. They enjoyed the 3rd ANOC Awards and Gala Dinner where athletes of the Summer Olympic Games in Rio were honored for their accomplishments and successes. Congratulations to ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and the Qatar Olympic Committee for hosting a first class event.

MISEP’s focus this year was on sport-specific deliverables and quality over quantity of trainings delivered. The driving force behind the success and sustainability of MISEP was linking courses to Olympic Solidarity grants and major sport competitions. The majority of certified MISEP graduates were prepared to proved to be highly successful with 18 successfully pass international federation (IF) participants passing. Kevin has been certified Level 1 courses. The MISEP program has by FIVB to teach these basic level courses become integral to MINOC’s organization and here in Oceania. Written and video resources implementation of not just education program are in the final stages of development to but also oversight of sport competitions, club support national volleyball coaches. Marshall leagues, etc. For the weightlifting-specific Islands Table Tennis Federation (MITTF) MISEP delivery, a Development of National worked with Oceania Table Tennis (OTTF) Sport Structure (DNSS) grant was Development Officer Michael Brown with the foundational. This, in conjunction with Terry focus of up-skilling Oceania expert coaches Sasser’s ICECP project and the MISEP team for delivery of courses. Choy Freddy was the (MISEP Master Educator/MEMOS graduate OSEP-certified regional expert from Amy Sasser, MISEP Coordinator/Educator identified who, after additional mentoring by Kevin Harkey and Educator Dimitrius ITTF expert Nicolas Petit in his delivery of the Tarkwon), collaborated to develop a national trainings, has now been certified to teach coaching course for weightlifting. Utilizing ITTF Level 1 courses. MISEP conducted the components from the USAW and IWF Level 1 administrative aspects of the course, which courses (developed by Oceania’s Lyn Jones) enabled participants to set up their own clubs and the OSEP Sport in Community and organize and run events. Mathusla led the RMI Team of three females Administrator (SiC) and Community Coach and six males who competed in 25 individual and Official (CC&O) course materials, the ATHLETICS events. Sione Aho was awarded “Outstanding national curriculum and an accompanying For the final year of the quadrennial the Male Junior Athlete” in the Junior Category, interactive PDF were developed with videos of Marshall Islands Athletics Federation (MIAF) and the team won the men’s under 18 discus over a hundred different lifts to help guide prioritized the upskilling of athletes/officials/ gold medal, men’s under 18 long jump new coaches to pass the USAW and IWF coaches to better prepare for high-level bronze medal, silver medal for men’s under Level 1 Coaching Courses. Volleyball followed competition. Another priority was elite level 18 javelin 800g, silver medal for women’s suit. Kevin worked with the FIVB instructor to training opportunities for athletes preparing under 18 shot put 4kg, and silver medal for integrate the OSEP modules into the FIVB for the Rio Olympic Games. MIAF conducted men’s under 18 for shotput. Volleyball Your Way grassroots beach its National Championships with teams from volleyball course. Running the MISEP courses Majuro Atoll and outer island competitors. Mariana Cress and Richson Simeon were in conjunction with the FIVB certificate course The events, including 100M Sprint, Long MIAF’s athletes to the Rio Olympic Games Jump, Kids Athletics program and Beach where both competed in the 100M. Mariana Clean Up, were hosted in various parts of the followed in her father’s (Roman Cress) atoll to achieve wider promotion of athletics footsteps as a Marshallese Olympian. Richson and environmental awareness. World is an upcoming sprinter who shows great Athletics Day was celebrated with a 5K Run/ promise. The Rio experience has instilled in Walk and track & field events. him the drive to develop his performance and he is poised to excel in the coming Oceania Athletics Association (OAA) held its quadrennial. Micronesia Regional Championships in Pohnpei, FSM. National coach Edison MIAF completed the Readiness Assessment Tool and OAA’s Yvonne Mullins and Lars

96 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

Sports Ambassador program. Coach Newell spent three weeks in Majuro, Ebeye and Kwajalein focusing on player development and sports leadership presentations to many high schools. He conducted numerous clinics for students and out-of-school, high-risk youth, both boys and girls.

MIBF teamed up with FIBA Oceania’s Zone Development Officer and former WNBA player Annie LaFleur for an introduction of 3x3 to youths in the remote atoll of Arno. This visit included much needed supplies of basketball shoes and development training for basketball competitions, and ended with an all managers coaches. Other provinces on Majuro Atoll 3x3 tournament at Marshall Islands Resort gained new and up-skilled levels of coaching. Hansen conducted the CECS Level I Coaching basketball court. Course and TOECS Level 1 Technical Course. A three-month summer youth league was Under the OAA Special Grant, MIAF A Christmas basketball tournament was held MIBF’s next project, organized by MISEP conducted its first Outer Island Sports Clinic for elementary and middle schools. FSM sent graduate and National Basketball and Athlete Identification on the island of a middle school boys team to play the top Development Officer Rickiano Antibas. Four Ebeye. three schools in the capitol: 1st Majuro leagues were conducted simultaneously, Middle School, 2nd Laura Elementary School featuring U12, U15 and U18 competition for Edison attended the IAAF CECS Level II and 3rd Majuro Baptist Christian Academy. Sprints and Hurdles Course in Townsville, boys, and an open league for girls. Over 50 teams competed in these summer leagues. Australia. MIAF Secretary Eunice Borero SWIMMING attended IAAF’s Oceania Special Congress in 2016 was a productive year for the Marshall The Bank of Marshall Islands 16th Ralik Ratak Queensland, Australia, followed by IAAF’s Islands Swimming Federation (MISF) with new Shootout national basketball tournament “Time for Change” Special Congress in national records, highest numbers of brought together the best players from around Monaco. These congresses helped participants, increased coach certification and the country. MIBF collaborated with school federations understand and approve the the Olympic Games. MISF President Mary coaches, community sports clubs and changes in IAAF’s rules and regulations. Harris attended the FINA World Aquatics Gala Salvation Army sport club to run an U22 High Coach Carlon Zedkaia attended the CECS 1 in Budapest where awards were given to the School basketball league at Rita Salvation Lecturers Refresher Course in Gold Coast. best athletes of 2015 in each discipline. FINA Army Basketball court. MIBF managed an made commitments regarding their open category, U12, U18 3x3, another Throughout 2016, MIAF organized eight 5K development program, from which MISF will first-time basketball event in the history of the races that were very successful with the help benefit, and will offer two disciplines as part Marshall Islands. All these 3x3 competitions of officials, volunteers, parents, and athletes. of the 2017 FINA Clinics Program. MIAF is grateful for all of the support and were run through 3x3planet.com Event Maker. efforts, which made this year successful. Longtime Oceania coach Bill Sakovich and national coach Amy LaCost conducted a FINA MIBF organized a weeklong Basketball BASKETBALL Development Swim Clinic at Beach Park on Summit in November, which gathered the The Marshall Islands Basketball Federation Ebeye. This clinic was well attended with over managers of all sports clubs throughout (MIBF) continues to expand its horizons, both 20 participants. Bill also conducted coach’s Majuro, from Rita to Laura. Topics included: locally and in the sub-region of Micronesia. clinics with sessions focused on coaching and referees, coaches, girls/women involvement, Early in the New Year, former NBA Coach working with parents and officials. Sessions disabilities, infrastructure, equipment, health Tom Newell arrived, sponsored for his third were a combination of classroom and and NCD prevention, collaboration for annual visit by the US State Department’s poolside instruction and observation. The

97 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

MISF swim clinic was featured in FINA’s development book, making MISF proud to be a part of FINA’s successful development program.

Spring Swim Season on Kwajalein included four swim meets. Swimmers broke several national records; Colleen Furgeson broke a 100m-backstroke record that stood for 23 years. The investments into our youth programs are paying off with these results, and athletes are being identified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires. The Oceania Swim Championship/ Olympic Games Qualifier in Suva was well organized. Marshall Islands’ team performance was at an all-time high, with more personal bests achieved than at any other Oceania Championships.

Both Giordan Harris and Colleen Furgeson attended the summer swim clinic at Bolles Swim in Jacksonville, Florida to prepare for the Rio Olympics. Daily elite training concentrated on technique, starts, turns, endurance, speed, IM’s, and main strokes, with one day a week dedicated to recovery with a technical focus. Additionally, dry-land workouts were 45 minutes each day consisting of body weight exercises, running, medicine balls, plyometric drills and abdominals. Both Giordan and Colleen represented the Marshall Islands at the 31st Olympiad in Rio. Both swam the 50-freestyle event with personal best times. They bring home with them a wealth of elite training knowledge to infuse into MISF’s programs. community coach and administrator courses Colleen Furgeson, Annie Hepler and MaryRuth in 2017. The MISEP team worked closely with MITTF Long attended the 13th FINA World and Coach Freddy to integrate the Sport in Swimming Championships (25m) in Windsor, TABLE TENNIS Community Administrator modules into the Canada. Colleen competed in eight events The Marshall Islands Table Tennis Federation ITTF Level 1 course. A Readiness Assessment obtaining person best times in each, with the (MITTF) thanks OTTF and Olympic Solidarity Tool was conducted with the MITTF Board to bonus of coming in 1st in two of her heats, for providing amazing developmental better gauge the federation’s strengths and earning TV time. President Mary Harris also opportunities through a DNSS grant for the areas for development. Coach Freddy, attended the 4th FINA World Aquatics sport of table tennis in the Marshall Islands. mentored by Coach Nicolas, took a lead roll in Convention. OTTF’s Michael Brown continues to be delivering the coaching course, while also instrumental in developing the sport in our visiting the public and private schools to National coach Sarah Stepchew successfully region. A remarkable developmental officer conduct beginner level clinics throughout completed the 18th FINA World Sports was identified in Nicolas Petit of France, who Majuro. He is now certified to teach L1 Medicine Congress to become certified as a conducted the ITTF-PTT Level 1 Coaching Team Medical Assistant. National Coach Course. In its efforts to develop qualified Helbert Alfred attended the 3rd FINA regional experts, Marshall Islands requested Swimming Coaches Golden Clinic, which that Michael help identify someone in the featured top coaches from around the world regional who both understood our cultural and including Michael Phelps’s coach, Bob logistical challenges and could help build on Bowman. Coach Alfred is now certified as a our successes. Michael recommended Choy gold coach, the first Marshallese coach to Freddy of Kiribati for a one-month reach this level. MISF has requested MISEP development visit.

98 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

competitions run year around. MIVF consistently provides events for the communities. A women’s veteran’s (35 years and up) indoor tournament, with an emphasis on awareness and prevention of non- communicable diseases (NCDs) through physical activity, was organized for the first time in 2016. Twelve teams competed over two consecutive weekends culminating with the top three teams playing in the Olympic Day/ Women’s Sport Festival beach volleyball tournament. courses for ITTF. Marshall Islands’ course as well as executives and members was featured on the ITTF website. DHS completing MISEP community coach and Since the re-organization of Oceania Zonal supplied tables and equipment to support a administrator courses. Two MIVF candidates, Volleyball Association (OZVA), with the smaller full club infrastructure, and the DNSS grant Rutha Pedro and Darcy Ann Muller, were island countries taking a lead role in its constructed plywood trainings tables that trained as MISEP community administrators development, beach volleyball has come were distributed throughout the atoll to and coaches and are now actively involved in further in the last two years than the previous schools and community centers. the organization and implementation of local 20. FIVB President Graca, AVC President and . Nassar and Executive Vice-President Hamzah Following Petit and Freddy’s visit, have been vigilant to hear our voice. MIVF development has continued at an amazing The Majuro Day indoor volleyball tournament wishes to extend its gratitude for their pace with several new clubs starting up in showed a high level of popularity for the sport support. FIVB’s Kim Latty and OZVA’s different communities. Those club members with many players from around the nation Secretary General Hugh Graham worked with are utilized in organizing and hosting joining the competition. National and Local MIVF to identify a qualified regional instructor competitions from grassroots to national Government, MINOC and MISEP partnered up who was capable of delivering the FIVB games. The benefits are far reaching and we with MIVF to deliver the 2016 National Volleyball Your Way grassroots beach are looking toward 2018 to focus heavily on Games. MISEP graduates were utilize to volleyball course. MIVF partnered up with international competition and high-level organize and run the National Games Indoor MISEP and FIVB to host the course at the training for our athletes, including youth Volleyball competition, which hosted 11 College of the Marshall Islands (CMI). competitors for the 2018 Youth Olympic men’s teams and 11 women’s teams (over Participants from various schools, Games. Sixty-six competitors, both male and 400 players) from each district. The next communities and national players attended female, representing 11 clubs, competed in generation of players is becoming the weeklong course, which was featured on the open single-elimination National competitive, and their high level of skill at a FIVB’s website. Championships Table Tennis Tournament. It younger age is evident. Communities turned was obvious that the practice tables and new out to watch and cheer for the games, and Beach volleyball is taking root, with both DHS competition equipment placed the championship games were web streamed women’s and co-ed leagues increasing in throughout the communities have noticeably live for friends and families living abroad to popularity. The President’s Day Cup raised the level of table tennis competition in watch and feel like they were a part of the showcased ten of the nation’s best women’s the Marshall Islands. national excitement. These games went down teams, and provided valuable competition for in history as the most watched Marshallese the national beach team preparing for the VOLLEYBALL events on social media with 43,000+ OZVA Western Zone Competition in early The Marshall Islands Volleyball Federation spectators watching online. 2017. MIVF is working closely with the (MIVF) is making progress in both indoor and Ministry of Public Works to identify new beach beach volleyball. MIVF is working to improve Community indoor leagues were organized for volleyball facilities. its capacity through the completion of the seven districts on the Island. High school Readiness Assessment Tool with the board, (U19) and elementary school (U13) volleyball

99 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

MIVF’s Kevin Harkey attended the FIVB LEVEL Following a month-long pre-game training of her Tripartite Invitation to compete at the II Volleyball Coaching Course in Guam and camp in Hawaii, weightlifters Mattie Sasser Rio Olympic Games. achieved a Level II coaching certificate. Along and Kabuati Bob and coaches Terry Sasser with coaching and delivering MISEP courses, and Mack Capelle attended the 2016 Oceania Mattie set the Marshall Islands team off to a Kevin has been instrumental in assisting with Weightlifting Championships/ Olympic Games successful start on day three of the Rio organizing and refereeing national and club Qualification Tournament in Suva. Kabuati Games in the women’s 58Kg category, which competition in the Marshall Islands. achieved a fourth place finish in the 85kg was broadcast to more than 10 million people competition behind New Zealand, and in the United States on NBC’s live television WEIGHTLIFTING Australia. Each of his lifts was a personal coverage. This brought great pride to the Through an ICECP project and DNSS support, competition best and his total improved his Marshallese communities living in the US as the Marshall Islands Weightlifting Federation previous competition personal best by 12kg they saw Mattie’s inspiring performance. Her (MIWLF) developed the Marshall Islands since last year’s Pacific Games. At 21 years lifts broke her own record to set a new Weightlifting National Coaching Course of age, he was the youngest senior lifter in his Oceania 58kg Junior snatch record and curriculum, the purpose of which is to lay the weight class and competed lift for lift with the placed Mattie in second place of Group B and basic foundation for coaching weightlifting top lifters in Oceania. It was clear that, 11th overall. Her enthusiastic reaction to her and prepare entry-level coaches for success coming out of the junior category, Kabuati is a successful final lift garnered global press in both IWF and USAW Level 1 coaching force to be reckoned with in the Oceania coverage. courses. Conducting the Readiness senior weight class. Rio scholarship recipient Assessment Tool with the MIWLF Board also Mattie exceeded expectations by winning both Mattie won gold at her final weightlifting helped to identify key areas for improvement. the Junior and Senior 58kg gold medals. Not competition as a junior athlete, the 2016 MIWLF partnered with MISEP in the only did Mattie achieve a brilliant win, she American Open in Orlando, Florida. Mattie’s development and piloting of the course. also broke all three Oceania junior records 88kg/194lb snatch and 113kg/149lb clean Seven participants – a mix of athletes, twice (six in total), broke the Oceania senior and jerk for a 201kg/442lbs total broke her coaches and administrators – successfully clean/jerk record (set in 2008) twice in a row, previous Oceania 58kg junior snatch and total completed the national coaching course, four and was awarded both the Junior and Senior records and bested all the American lifters. of whom went on to successfully pass the Top Female Lifter of the Competition trophies. USA Weightlifting and Sport Performance Because weightlifting is a non-stop, year Coaching course, which prepares coaches for Going into the IWF Junior World around sport, it is difficult to retain the the IWF Level 1 course. Seven participants Championships, Mattie was ranked 4th in the commitment of athletes. We are learning and are registered to take the IWF Level 1 junior 58kg and 18th in the senior IWF understanding the difference between “talent Coaching Course under Oceania Weightlifting rankings. Unfortunately, she suffered a identification” and “talent selection.” Talent Expert Trent Dabwido of Nauru, organized by medical condition on the day of competition identification randomly identifies a possible OWF Secretary General Paul Coffa for the first and took 5th in the clean and jerk and 7th athlete from a pool of candidates through a quarter of 2017. These participants will return overall, which was disappointing as her program designed to find new athletic talent; to their gyms and clubs with the newfound Oceania lifts would have taken the clean/jerk while talent selection is choosing a potential knowledge and resources to further develop bronze medal. On her return home from the athlete based, not only on talent, but also on the sport in their communities. Junior Worlds, Mattie was met with the news their observed character, commitment level,

100 OCEANIA NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES 2016 ANNUAL REPORT

coming up through the junior leagues. Both men’s and women’s teams are preparing for the 2018 Micronesian Games where the women will be defending their 2014 gold medal and the men aim to improve on their 2014 silver finish.

Elite taekwondo athlete and Rio Scholarship recipient Jason Sam trained in Honolulu, Hawaii. The previous Oceania and Pacific Games champion has frequently been on the podium over the past eight years. He is in the process of transitioning from competitive athlete to focus on education and career. Jason is the newest member of the Marshall Islands Athletes’ Commission and serves on the executive board of the Marshall Islands Taekwondo Federation. He is working with other taekwondo enthusiasts to promote the sport and develop a facility to begin youth and junior programs here in the Marshall Islands.

With support from MINOC the Marshall Wrestling Federation (MWF) sent elite female wrestler and Rio Scholarship holder Ilania Keju to the 2016 Oceania Wrestling Championships in Hamilton, New Zealand, where she won gold in the junior competition and bronze in the senior category. This win qualified Ilania to attend the Africa/Oceania Olympic Qualifier tournament held in Algiers, Algeria. MWF President Waylon Muller and other veteran wrestlers continue to train the national team. They extended an invitation to Alvin Harris and the Kiribati Wrestling Federation for a training camp to challenge each other and improve their competition skills.

The lead up to Tokyo2020 promises to be an exciting quadrennial for sport in Oceania. We look forward to utilizing all of the resources and opportunities available to achieve a higher level of excellence in preparations for what we believe will be our largest and most athletic skills, personal life and other factors the Tokyo2020 Games, the visibility and successful Olympic delegation. Thank you for that might affect their behavior and popularity of the sport will grow in this your valuable collaboration. performance. Capitalizing on talent selection quadrennial. Oceania’s relatively close is helping MIWLF retain quality, dedicated proximity to Japan will no doubt open funding President Kenneth Kramer athletes, coaches and support staff. Youth streams and training opportunities in the next Secretary General Terry Sasser athletes are being selected for 2018 YOG in few years. Little league baseball has grown Buenos Aires. MIWLF President Minister Tony over the last quadrennial, gaining sponsorship Muller’s focus for the next quadrennial is the and recognition from the private sector. development of new clubs with trained, Men’s and women’s fast- softball is fast qualified coaches at the ready. becoming the sport of the Marshall Islands. Junior and senior leagues are organized year OTHER SPORTS around. Well over four hundred participants With women’s softball and men’s baseball competed in this year’s National Games and a added back to the Olympic sport program for new generation of competitive athletes is

101