FASANOC Acknowledges Programme

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) would like to acknowledge the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Scholarship programme which has seen 89 recipients from 61 National Olympic Committee's (NOCs) in this years Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

IOC Scholarship recipients won a total of 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze and 11 Diplomas including an athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) who competed in karate.

Team Fiji also benefitted from the IOC Scholarship programme which saw athletes like  judoka Tevita Takayawa, swimmer Cheyenne Rova and sailor Sophia Morgan being able to participate in their first ever Olympic Games.

FASANOC Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Mar said all scholarships are very important and to receive one from the IOC and Olympic Solidarity is a great achievement by athletes to firstly be nominated by their National Federation as being seen to have the potential to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Lorraine some of the benefits included but not limited to financial support for training and preparation towards qualifying events.

"This can also include allowances towards transportation to and from training, entry fees to training venues, competitions and training expenses.  

"In some cases, assistance is paid directly to a recognized training camp or attachment for athletes," she said.

"An additional 'travel subsidy' is provided for the duration of the scholarship period to assist with travel costs to sanctioned qualification competitions towards the Olympic Games."

Lorraine said scholarships are limited however the total allocation of funds can be split amongst several athletes that is finally approved by Olympic Solidarity.

However athletes hoping to receive an IOC Scholarship would need to be in the best possible position to qualify for an upcoming Olympic Games.

"The Olympic Solidarity invites NOCs to submit nominations then FASANOC invites sports on the upcoming Games program to apply and has a committee that vets applications and prioritises them based on the best possible potential to qualify on merit," Lorraine said.

Athletes that have benefitted from an IOC Scholarship include:

2017 - 2020: Robert Elder (Archery), Ratu Banuve Tabakaucoro and Eugene Vollmer (Athletics), Winston Hill (Boxing), Tevita Takayawa (Judo), Sophia Morgan (Sailing), Cheyenne Rova, Moana Wind, Matelita Buadromo and Herbert Rabua (Swimming), Sally Yee (Table Tennis)  - all selected or qualified except for Eugene, Winston, Moana, Matelita and Herbert

2013 - 2016:  Robert Elder (Archery), Younis Bese, Ratu Banuve Tabakaucoro, Leslie Copeland (Athletics), Josateki Naulu (Judo) and Apolonia Vaivai (Weightlifting) - all selected/qualified except for Younis and Banuve

2009 - 2012:  Leslie Copeland (Athletics), Sisilia Naisiga (Judo), Glenn Kable (Shooting) and Manueli Tulo (Weightlifting) - all selected for London except for Sisilia

2005 - 2008:  Niko Verekauta and Makelesi Bulikiobo from athletics, judoka Sisilia Naisiga and shooter Glenn Kable - all 4 selected or qualified

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INTERESTING FACTS ON IOC SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS

Gold - Joshua Kiprui CHEPTEGEI (UGA) - Athletics - Men's 5000m

Joshua CHEPTEGEI won Uganda's fourth Olympic gold medal (all in athletics), and the second of these Olympic Games after Peruth CHEMUTAI's win in the women's 3000m steeplechase.

CHEPTEGEI claimed Uganda's first medal in the men's 5000m at the Olympic Games.

CHEPTEGEI became the second athlete representing Uganda to claim multiple Olympic medals, after boxer Leo RWABOGO (one silver, one bronze).

CHEPTEGEI picked up silver in the men's 10,000m earlier at these Games.

Silver - Maria Magdalena ANDREJCZYK (POL) - Athletics - Women's Javelin

Maria ANDREJCZYK claimed Poland's second Olympic medal in the women's javelin throw, after Maria KWASNIEWSKA took bronze in 1936.

This was Poland's eighth Olympic athletics medal at the Tokyo Games, equaling its record haul set in 1964, when the Olympic Games were also held in Tokyo.

Bronze - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) - Wrestling - Women's Freestyle -53kg

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA gives Belarus its seventh medal in wrestling freestyle, the same number of medals the NOC has won in Greco-Roman.

Bronze - Gabor HARSPATAKI (HUN) - Karate - Men's -75 Kumite

Karoly Gabor HARSPATAKI claims Hungary's seventh medal in a combat sport at these Olympic Games, most for the NOC since 1992 (12).

Gold - Jovana PREKOVIC (SRB) - Karate - Women's -61 Kumite

Jovana PREKOVIC gives Serbia its fifth Olympic gold medal in history, after it won twice in taekwondo, once in wrestling and once in Water Polo.

Bronze - Taha AKGUL (TUR) - Wrestling - Men's Freestyle 125kg

Taha AKGUL is the first Turkish athlete to claim multiple Olympic medals in men's freestyle wrestling since 1968, when Ahmet AYIK won his second medal.

Bronze - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) - Wrestling - Men's Freestyle -74kg

Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV hands Uzbekistan its eighth Olympic medal in wrestling (G2-S2-B4) and its first in the sport of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Uzbekistan has only won as many Olympic medals in boxing (14).

Silver - Amalie DIDERIKSEN (DEN) - Cycling - Track - Women's Madison

Amalie DIDERIKSEN and Julie LETH (DEN) became the first Danish women to win an Olympic medal in track cycling. Denmark's other 19 Olympic medals in track cycling were all won by men.

PROVISIONAL PARTICIPATION FIGURES

Following the completion of the Delegation Registration Meetings (DRMs) the provisional Tokyo 2020 participation figures for the beneficiaries of these programmes are:

Tokyo scholarships: 836 athletes (473 men & 363 women) from 178 NOCs in 26 sports

Team support grants: 29 teams (15 men & 14 women) from 25 NOCs in 8 sports

Refugee athlete support grants: 29 athletes (19 men & 10 women) from 13 host NOCs in 12 sports.

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