The Northern Marianas 2022 Pacific Mini Games were declared open after a spectacular Opening Ceremony where drones lit up the sky in a dazzling show.
Athletes from the 20 Pacific nations were treated to a superb spectacle at the Oleai Sports Complex Track and Field in Saipan as the Games returned for the first time in five years.
The Games were last held in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila in 2017 and were due to take place last year only to be postponed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the destruction caused by Super Typhoon Yutu.
The Opening Ceremony of North Mariana 2022 was attended by more than 1,800 athletes, officials, media, volunteers and support staff, according to the Saipan Tribune.
Students from Marianas High School and Saipan Southern High School sang the national anthems of the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States.
Marco Peter, chair of the Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 Organising Committee, and Pacific Games Council President Vidhya Lakhan delivered speeches before Northern Mariana Islands Governor Ralph Torres declared the opening of the event.