Team Fiji Announces Olympic Squad

With 23 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on 23 July 2021, Team Fiji has named their Athletes and Officials who will fly Fiji’s flag at Tokyo 2020.

The hype is certainly building for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games following the Olympic Day celebrations last week.

International Federations are finalising qualification spots and we’re happy to confirm that Tevita Takayawa has qualified for the Olympic Games after being nominated by the International Judo Federation for an Oceania Continental spot.   Tevita is one of five of the highest ranked Judokas in the Oceania region.

Tevita’s performance at the IJF Tokyo 2020 Qualification competition in Budapest earlier this month where he made it to round 2, after beating an Australian opponent, certainly contributed to him securing the qualification spot.

Joining Tevita in competing at Tokyo 2020 are swimmers Taichi Vakasama in the 200m breaststroke event and Cheyenne Rova in the women’s 50m freestyle.  Cheyenne is currently in Sydney training under the PacificAus Sports Partnership whilst Taichi opted to stay back in Nadi and is training locally with his club coach Marlene Blake.

Athletics Fiji has named Banuve Tabakaucoro as the athlete to represent Fiji in Athletics in the 100m event.  Banuve is Fiji’s highest ranked athlete on the World Athletics Ranking table.

Tevita, Taichi, Cheyenne and Banuve are the last athletes to join the members of the extended squads for Rugby Sevens Men’s & Women’s Teams, Sophia Morgan in Sailing and Sally Yee in Table Tennis.

Team Fiji will now be represented in 6 sports - Athletics, Judo, Rugby Sevens Men and Women, Sailing, Swimming and Table Tennis.

The Rugby Sevens Teams still include names in the extended squads as the respective Coaches are expected to name their final 13 athletes and 5 Officials each, just prior to the closing sports entries deadline of 5 July. Some of these athletes in the extended squad are expected to travel with the other athletes to Oita Prefecture, the Pre Games Training Camp for Team Fiji, before entering the Olympic Games Village, 5 days prior to the start of the respective sports competitions.

FASANOC yesterday announced the names of Athletes and Officials who will make up Team Fiji which consists of 53 individuals.

FASANOC’s selection process included its Selection Justification Commission vetting nominations from the respective National Federations, before forwarding its recommendations to the FASANOC Executive Board. The Board subsequently recommended the names of athletes and officials to the Board of Management for final approval. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions this approval was sought by an electronic poll and a majority approval was received.

With the approval of the FASANOC Board of Management, an appeals process is now in place and athletes and officials who wish to appeal their non-selection may do so within 48 hours of the release of the Final Team List. The appeal window of 48 hours from 5pm Monday 28 June to 5 pm Wednesday 30 June, 2021.  Athletes and Officials who wish to appeal their non-selection must lodge their appeal in writing to the FASANOC Secretary General-CEO by email to lorraine@fasanoc.org.fj

The purpose of the Appeals Process is to give athletes and officials an opportunity to appeal their case if they feel they have been unfairly deprived of selection to represent Fiji at Tokyo 2020.

The Appeals Tribunal makes its judgment based on the submission of the appellant and the Selection Criteria that had been submitted by the National Federation and approved by the FASANOC Executive Board, as well as the Board of Management. The decision of the Appeals Tribunal is final and binding on the parties.

Mr Patrick Bower, Chef de Mission to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games said, “I take much pleasure in welcoming the athletes into Team Fiji for Tokyo 2020. Fiji has had a very challenging year this past year and I acknowledge all the hard work that has been put in by the athletes to stay focused on mission and to make the team. I admire the resilience and conviction that has been shown by those who have qualified and been selected.”

“The team of returning Olympians and debutants will no doubt inspire a new generation of Fijians to be future Olympians from Tokyo this summer” said Mr Bower.
The Chef de Mission confirmed that Tokyo 2020 will be the first time that all countries will have a Male and Female flagbearer.  Team Fiji’s flagbearers will be named closer to the Opening Ceremony.
Team Fiji is scheduled to depart for their Pre Games Training Camp on 08 July 2021.

FASANOC acknowledges the invaluable support of the Fiji Government, Australian Government, Australian Olympic Committee, International Olympic Committee and its Olympic Solidarity Program, Oceania National Olympic Committees, National Federations, Fiji Airways, Corporate Sponsors and Partners, families of the athletes and the people of Fiji for their support.