FASANOC
Close to 40 participants including National Federation coaches took part in a two-day GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) Programme which is a joint collaboration between Griffith University in Queensland, Australia and the Commonwealth Sport (CS), that was held at the National Stadium this week.
Close to 40 participants including National Federation coaches took part in a two-day GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) Programme which is a joint collaboration between Griffith University in Queensland, Australia and the Commonwealth Sport (CS), that was held at the National Stadium this week.
Participants from the Spinal Injury Association, Fiji Swimming, Fiji Table Tennis, Weightlifting Fiji, Athletics Fiji, and Fiji Paralympic Committee took part in the programme designed to support the development of inclusive sport pathways throughout the Commonwealth.
The programme was led by Griffith University Associate Professor, Clare Minahan, and included sports specific coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, physiotherapists and psychologists from Australia and New Zealand and officials from CS and the Oceania Paralympic Committee
Professor Clare said GAPS offered athletes and coaches from the Commonwealth access to additional skills, knowledge and resources.
"The programme has several objectives which includes collaborative stakeholder partnerships and one which is important for us, inclusion and diverse participation," she said.
"GAPS aims to provide a platform to amplify, accelerate and to transform the future of athletes from where they are now to the global stage."
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee's Sports Development Manager Lyndall Fisher said Fiji was invited to be a part of the GAPS programme which is aimed at advancing education and supporting inclusive sport pathways that promotes positive social changes in sports and communities. A GAPS programme was also held in Samoa last week.
Lyndall said GAPS included leadership and talent identification courses, coach education and mentorship workshops.
"While these high-level training camps support athletes to not only train and prepare, they are also a unique opportunity for participants and officials to understand the international classification system used for athletes with a disability."
Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) Para Classifier, Dr Jagdish Maharaj, was in attendance and able to internationally classify Athletics athletes.
This is a great opportunity for Fiji athletes to receive their classification particularly as there are para events at the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands in November.
Paralympian athlete Iosefo Rakesa said the programme allowed him to build on his confidence.
"I'm learning something new from this programme and it is refreshing to learn how training has changed and evolved.
"This will allow me to better myself as an athlete and hopefully give me the confidence to perform and medal at international events," he said.
The GAPS inclusion of sportswomen and athletes with a disability highlights the complex responsibilities and principles of improving social justice in the sporting context.
The partnership with CS promotes inclusivity through elite athletes with a disability competing side-by-side with able-bodied elite athletes.
The extended and integrated GAPS program is an obvious success story with GAPS Global para-athletes competing in 58 events with Oceania para-athleteswinning five medals, at the 2018 Commonwealth Games where para events were competed for the first time. Medalistsincluded athletes from the Cook Islands and Vanuatu.
GAPS Global para-athletes achieved more success in Birmingham, winning nine medals including one gold in a world-record time, four silver, four bronze and 15 personal best times for their nations. Fiji’s para-athlete Naibili Vatunisolo won Bronze in the Women’s Shot-Put event.
Additionally, six countries nominated GAPS athletes to proudly carry their national flags at the Opening Ceremony including Fiji's Naibili Vatunisolo.
