Comments:Micronesia left behind by the Paralympic movement

Back to article

This page is for commentary on the news. If you wish to point out a problem in the article (e.g. factual error, etc), please use its regular collaboration page instead. Comments on this page do not need to adhere to the Neutral Point of View policy. Please remain on topic and avoid offensive or inflammatory comments where possible. Try thought-provoking, insightful, or controversial. Civil discussion and polite sparring make our comments pages a fun and friendly place. Please think of this when posting.

Use the "Start a new discussion" button just below to start a new discussion. If the button isn't there, wait a few seconds and click this link: Refresh.

This is inaccurate. It's true that Guam and CNMI are considered territories of the US, but the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are all independent nations that have a seat in the United Nations. They all have Presidents that are Head of Government and Head of State. What else defines an independent nation? It's true, that after WWII they were a Trust Territory of the United States, but that status ended a long time ago and these nations all celebrate their Independence Day, when they truly became a soverign nation

Inaccurate how? IPC recognition of these countries is completely SEPARATE from UN recognition. I know they have such recognition, but that does not mean the IPC does. It also doesn't mean the IPC will give it. You seem to be conflating completely different ideas here: Separate recognition by most world governing bodies and the Paralympics. If this ultimately matters to Micronesia countries, than they need to work with the OPC to gain recognition and send athletes.

Because which Marshallese, Chomorro, Carolinian, Chuuk, Guam based athletes are at the Paralympics? The second biggest sporting event of the year and Micronesia is completely missing but the Solomons and Tonga and Vanuatu are there.

The article says: "According to a member of the Oceania Paralympic Committee, the IPC recognizes fewer countries than the International Olympic Committee, with IPC rules prohibiting countries from becoming full members of the organization if their independence is not clear. This rule dates back to the organization's founding and no serious attempts have been made to change it since."

It does not say that the Member of the Oceania Paralympic Committee contributed at all to the following analysis regarding the independence of the Freely Associated States. It seems as if the writer of the article included his or her own opinion and asserted it as fact. While it is good to provide analysis, in this case the analysis is incorrect.

There is not question whatsoever that the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are independent sovereign nations, each with their own separate Compact of Free Association with the United States, and each with their own separate Constitutions.

As editor of the FSM's only newspaper, I am aware of the existence of an FSM National Olympic Committee but not of a paraolympic committee. This may be the reason for the absence of the FSM at the games rather than some question about our own sovereignty.

According to the OPC President when asked, the FSM does not have one because they are not eligible to have one. This was what was told to us by him and is not a matter of opinion. If you want to get us in touch with the FSM's Olympic Committee so they can explain why you don't have a Paralympic Committee, then we can report that. In any case, the region is still left behind because no Micronesian nations are represented at the Paralympics.

Umm... "The Federated States of Micronesia is an independent, sovereign island nation" - Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesia

Eventhough they are in a Compact of Free Association with the US, that just means the US provides FSM with financial aid. They are still a sovereign nation.