Guam

The Guam National Olympic Committee (GNOC) functions as the national body that prepares and sends Guam athletes to the Micronesian Games.

Aside from participating in the Games, Guam has the distinction of hosting the third edition of the Micronesian Games in 1994. It was held in Hagana from 27 March to 2 April 1994. A key strength for Guam has been its historically active culture and practice of sport in communities.

For historical perspective, GNOC is a non-profit sports body that includes almost 30 sporting federations and derives most of its operations income from a very successful sports lotto and scratchies programme that is popular with the local community. GNOC has an office through the IOC Olympic Solidarity grant, Olympoceania and its own portfolio of investments.

For broader context, Guam is a former colony of Spain and was ceded to the US in 1898. It was captured by the Japanese in 1941 and retaken by the US three years later. The military installations on Guam are strategically the most important for the US and remain the country’s main source of income and economic stability.

Guam is an unincorporated organised territory of the US with local self-government. Its chief income is derived from US defence spending followed by tourism. Of its 544 sq. km. total land area, about 2% is arable land and 33% of this is dedicated to agriculture - fruit, vegetables, copra, eggs, pork, poultry and beef. Its marine resources remain largely undeveloped.

GNOC works and operates against this historical and economic backdrop. Sport and physical activity are critical elements of the country’s intervention targeting non-communicable diseases (NCDs, obesity).  

In the context of these challenges, Guam remains a stalwart of the Micronesian Games in terms of continuity, membership and overall sustainability of the Games.