HAGATNA, 06 APRIL 2021 - Former Senator Michael Reidy, the founding father of the Guam National Olympic Committee (GNOC), passed away in Frederick, Maryland.

GNOC President Ricardo Blas paid tribute to Reidy:

"Mike is the founding father of Guam's Olympic Movement and was the key person working towards affiliating Guam as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).  Mike was a true sportsman and he believed in the athletes of Guam."

Blas vividly recalls the Closing Ceremony of the 1987 South Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia, when Reidy met with him to tell him that Guam had officially been recognized by the IOC.  From that point, Guam used its own flag at sporting events.

Reidy was the President of the Guam Amateur Sports Federation, which also went by the GNOC name ahead of Olympic membership.

Reidy was at the helm when Guam hosted then-President of the IOC, Juan Antonio Samaranch, in 1987.  Samaranch returned three times and was the only IOC President to visit the island until current President Thomas Bach visited in May 2019.

The Guam National Olympic Committee extends our sincere appreciation to our founding father and condolences to his family.