Athletes To Showcase Talent

FIJI GAMES: Athletes participating in 21 sports will get the opportunity to showcase their talent and competitive spirit at this year's Fiji Games which begins on the 19th of April, 2019 at various locations in Suva, Fiji.

Interested athletes will be competing for medals in the sports of archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, billiard and snooker, boxing, darts, golf, karate, para-sports, powerlifting, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and weightlifting.

It is anticipated that athletes will be representing their districts of birth or residence over 24 districts  that include Korovou, Nausori, Suva, Lami, Nasinu, Vunidawa, Navua, Labasa, Savusavu, Seaqaqa, Taveuni, Saqani, Wainikoro, Lautoka, Yasawa, Ba, Tavua, Nadarivatu, Rakirakri, Nadi, Nadroga, Navosa, Levuka and Rotuma.

FASANOC Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Mar said there were several objectives as to why there was a Fiji Games.

"The Fiji Games provides an opportunity for competition for National Federations and allows them to identify talent, as well as train technical officials," she said.

Meanwhile several sports will be using the Fiji Games as a final trial for aspiring athletes hoping to represent Fiji at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in July, 2019.

Ms Mar said the Fiji Games would also allow national selectors for various sports to select athletes for forthcoming events such as the Pacific Games as well as other regional and international competitions organised by the various sports.

"The Fiji Games also gives technical officials an opportunity to upgrade or establish recognised qualifications.

"It is also an opportunity to strengthen the sports administration network in the country," she said.

Ms Mar said the Fiji Games would provide sports and districts the opportunity to train their officials in team management, coaching and administration of sports.

At the last Fiji Games in 2017, the district of Suva dominated winning a total of 30 gold medals with their closest rivals being Levuka who won 10 gold medals.

The concept known as Fiji Games was mooted in the early 1980’s by former FASANOC President and Life Member The Late Captain Stan Brown and Bobby Tikaram.

FASANOC resurrected the idea in 1993 and organised the Inaugural Fiji Games in August 1994. Since then the Games have been held annually until 2008, for economical reasons and due to an already busy calendar  of sporting events in 2008, the idea of hosting the Fiji Games after every two years was proposed in the 2009 FASANOC Annual General Meeting.

Over 300 Fiji Games Gold Medals will be up for grabs during the Games.

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