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Pohnpei hosts 5^th Micro Games

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): July 22, 2002 - More than 1000 athletes and officials from all over the Micronesian islands have converged on Pohnpei for the 5^th Micronesian Games, scheduled for July 21 - 30, 2002.

The Micronesian Games is an event held every four years to unite the widely strewn Micronesian Archipelago for the purpose of re-establishing island commonality and reaffirming regional solidarity through athletics games.

Started in 1969, the first games were held in Saipan - in the Northern Marianas, between the former United States Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. In the transition to government independence, the second Games scheduled for 1972 were postponed.

After a 21-year hiatus, the Second Games were held in 1990, once again in Saipan - now, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, among all the islands in the Micronesian Chain: Chuuk, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Marianas, Palau, Pohnpei and Yap.

The games have since consistently been played every four years: Game-3 in Guam, Game-4 in Palau and Pohnpei host to Game-5.

Please visit the 5^th Micronesian Games official website for details on the game schedule and events: www.microgames.fm.