PACIFIC GAMES
Team Fiji athletes and officials were hosted to a dinner by the Fijian Community in the Solomon Islands to welcome their national team to Honiara ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Pacific Games.
Team Fiji athletes and officials were hosted to a dinner by the Fijian Community in the Solomon Islands to welcome their national team to Honiara ahead of the official opening of the 2023 Pacific Games.
Since arriving in Fiji on Tuesday, the Fijian Community have supported Team Fiji through daily donation of cartons of bottled water to help keep athletes hydrated while trying to adapt to the heat.
The families within the Fijian Community have also volunteered to do laundry for the athletes from the respective sports, while there will also be donations of coolers to the medical team taking of Team Fiji.
While speaking on behalf of the Fijian Community, Commanding Officer RFMF Taskforce Cori Mada based in Honiara, Lieutenant Colonel Asaeli Toanikevesaid they are happy to welcome young people representing the noble banner blue at the Pacific Games.
Toanikeve added that the athletes should feel a sense of home in Honiara, particularly in the Guadalcanal Province.
“Fijians have been coming to the Solomon Islands for many years. Our forefathers started coming here in the 1800’s as missionaries. Then in World War II our soldiers came here, five of whom are still buried here. So know that as Fijians you are not visitors here,” he added.
Toanikeve also encouraged the players and reminded them they are champions in their own right and are warriors of Fiji here in the Solomon Islands to achieve great things for themselves, their families and their country.
Fiji Honorary Consular in the Solomon Islands, AtuetaBalekana who hosted the welcoming dinner said he, together with other Fijian nationals living in Honiara will be at the Team Fiji Games Village assisting anyway during the Pacific Games.
He stressed that since the arrival of Team Fiji at the Pacific Games there has been a lot of excitement within Honiara as the Fijian Community is well integrated with the locals.
Team Fiji Chef de Mission, Ajay Ballu acknowledged the great lengths Fijians and their families in Honiara are going to help the athletes and coaches feel at home.
“We are growing in strength and confidence because of your support. Team Fiji has gone a long way with the assistance you have given us. This is probably the best intersection we had with the Fijian Community at the Pacific Games. Thank you for supporting your team,” he added.
Ballu stressed that the athletes are there to not only represent their sports and their families, but they represent every single Fijian in Honiara and across the world.
The Team Fiji Chef de Mission also presented a gift as a token of the team’s appreciation to the Fijian Community for the great help they continue to provide.
Meanwhile, Minister for Youth Sports, Hon Jese Saukuru was also present at the event and gave his well wishes to the athletes who will be competing.
Athletes also presented the Team Fiji War Cry to the Fijian Community in the Solomons Islands and thanked the families who were present.
Fiji will march out during the Opening Ceremony at the Solomons National Stadium tomorrow, 19 November 2023.
