COMMONWEALTH GAMES
In a final push to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Fiji CGA/FASANOC President Makarita Lenoa thanked the Australian Government for their support of Fijian athletes in their final training and preparation for the Games.
In a final push to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Fiji CGA/FASANOC President Makarita Lenoa thanked the Australian Government for their support of Fijian athletes in their final training and preparation for the Games.
Mrs Lenoa said “These PacificAus sports-funded camps and training will give our athletes the greatest opportunity to compete to their best in Birmingham.
“The global pandemic has challenged all our athletes in recent years and with these final camps and high-performance training, we know our athletes can proudly represent Fiji in Birmingham”
Athletes from Triathlon, Table Tennis, Athletics and Squash are currently training in Australia as they prepare for the Games.
Carolyn Li, Team Manager of the Fijian table tennis team said “ this Camp in Sydney is the perfect opportunity for both our men's and women's teams to capitalise on their preparation with an intensive period of training. This is exactly what our team needs at this stage as we approach the Games.”
Fijian triathlete Rhys Cheer said “The chance to have an intensive program on the Sunshine Coast with other team members under a world-class coach makes all the difference to my preparation. I’m excited to be able to represent Fiji and this funding provides the perfect platform for me to deliver a personal best in Birmingham.’
Recent Pacific Mini Games Men's 100m sprint champion Banuve Tabakaucoro said “Attending the PacificAus Sports funded GAPS camp on the Gold Coast was the ideal preparation for the Pacific Mini Games. With another intensive training block on the Gold Coast, I feel confident I will perform at my best in Birmingham. I was fortunate to receive PacificAus Sports funding leading into the Tokyo Olympics and am extremely grateful for this support.”
These PacificAus Sports Funded camps and activities will see athletes and coaches enjoy high-performance training environments in various locations in Australia. This opportunity helps address a gap identified by the Fiji CGA/FASANOC as a priority need for Fiji athletes selected to participate at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Fiji expects to have a team of 64 athletes across 12 sports, including Para Athletics and Para Table Tennis, as well as Athletics, Boxing, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Rugby 7s Men and and Women, Squash, Table Tennis and Weightlifting competing in Birmingham.
Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) President Ben Houston thanked the Australian Government for their support of all Commonwealth Games athletes and para-athletes from the Pacific.
“With support from the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, the CGA and the Commonwealth Games Federation, Pacific athletes and para-athletes have this additional opportunity to prepare via the recent GAPS camps in Birmingham and the Gold Coast and now these camps in Australia.”
He spoke about the opportunity to inspire the Pacific through sport and the significance of developing the partnership. “The 2022 Commonwealth Games will see over 350 athletes from the Pacific competing in Birmingham. These athletes inspire people and young athletes across the world. This partnership is not just about backing high-performance programs across the Pacific. It also sends a message of resilience to communities throughout the region.”
Leading up to the Games in Birmingham Fiji athletes training in Australia include:
Athletics – Banuve Tabakaucoro and Yeshnil Karan - Team Preparation Camp – Oceania Athletics Training Centre, Gold Coast - 27 June – 13 July
Triathlon – Rhys Cheer and Nikotimasi Croker - Team Preparation Camp - Sunshine Coast Tri Academy –
30 June – 18 July
Table Tennis – Women Grace Yee, Carolyn Li & Touea Titana, Men Vicky Wu, Jai Chauhan & Steve Reilly
Team Preparation Camp – Sydney –06- 20 July
Squash – Marika Matanatabu Preparation Program - Brisbane - 06 June – 15 July
These athletes connect back with Team Fiji when the contingent transits in Sydney enroute to Birmingham via Dubai.
FASANOC also thanks the Australian High Commission in Suva for its consular assistance and support.
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will commence on 28 July 2022.
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About Team Fiji
Team Fiji is a diverse team of athletes from across Fiji who compete at the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Commonwealth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games and Pacific Games. FASANOC, the parent body of Team Fiji, founded in 1949, serves as the National Olympic Committee for Fiji and is responsible for protecting, supporting and empowering Team Fiji athletes. For more information, visit FASANOC
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For more information, please contact:
Ritesh Ratiram, Sponsorship and Marketing Manager, marketing@fasanoc.org.fj
