Athletes’

The work of the FAC is positioned under the FASANOC Strategic Plan under Strategic Focus: Commissions and Sport Services whose Goal is to 'Provide support for the development and growth of NFs and Commissions through positive collaboration.

The FAC was established by FASANOC in 2003 to promote and protect the best interests of Fiji's national sports athletes with one of its functions being to represent the views and concerns of athletes to the FASANOC Executive Board (EB) and to promote athlete involvement in decision-making at all levels.

FAC mission statement is to create a healthy and conducive environment for holistic growth of athletes where their best interests are always at heart and its purpose is to to create a safe space for athletes to know their rights and work with FASANOC and the National Federations to promote Safe Sport.

FAC promotes athlete involvement through advocating the benefits of athlete involvement in FASANOC and NF decision-making, and to specifically advocate on the FAC’s learning and support other FASANOC Commissions in advocating their learning as well as empower athlete representation through athlete representatives on the EB of NFs.

The FAC is comprised of an EB and various FAC NF representatives and includes eight members, three of which commence at the conclusion of each Pacific Games and at least one (1) member of the FAC EB must be a Para Athlete.

The Chair of the FAC EB alternates between a male and female every term as it strives for gender equality in its composition.

To be eligible for election or appointment to FAC a person must:

• Have represented Fiji at local, regional or international level in a sport
• Have left the sport for eight years or less
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be endorsed by their National Federation
• Have not been convicted for a felony
• Have not been sanctioned for a doping offence in their sporting career

To achieve the purpose as stated in the FAC Charter objectives, each member of the FASANO Athletes' Commission: actively supports the work of FASANOC on all matters relating to national, regional and international Games operations, performance and policy; considers questions and issues relating to athletes and provides advice to the FASANOC; represents the rights and interests of athletes and participates in FASANOC consultation and decision-making as required; contributes to co-operation, development and advocacy within the Olympic Movement and connects with other FASANOC Commissions. FAC members also help ensure that a suitable and effective range of services exists to support athletes' lives during and beyond Games time and competitive sport; and Supporting athletes to achieve success.

In this context the FAC provides the FASANOC Board the following on all matters within its scope: advice, opinion, recommendation, consultation, information or notice.

• In its latest cluster of activities, in 2019, the FAC supported two key activities: the Fiji (National) Games and Team Fiji to the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.
• 26 districts participated in the Fiji Games with 16 NFs organising competitions. Over 705 athletes and 120 officials participated at the national games and several sports used the Games as the final selection trials to the Pacific Games.
• Team Fiji to the Pacific Games in Samoa consisted of 354 athletes and 95 officials plus 2 locally based Samoan attaches, a total of 451. The Team participated in 24 sports which included athletes with disabilities in Athletics and table Tennis.
• Team Fiji finished fifth overall of 24 countries including Australia and New Zealand and collected 35 gold medals, 35 silver and 47 bronze.