With the revival of the Melanesian Games in July next year, Shop N Save Athletics Fiji started their season yesterday at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.

The competition attracted over 220 athletes with the main focus of the event was to attract teachers and former athletes to learn how to officiate.

“Our aim today was to get most of the primary school teachers to come out and learn how to officiate which is something we have been trying to work on,” Athletics Fiji chief development officer Joseph Rodan (Jnr) said.

“Officials are very important in any track meet because they actually can make or break an athlete’s career if it is not done well and it can push an athlete away from their sport.

“So we encourage officials to come out and get as much training as possible because from a Melanesian Games point of view it’s more economical to have more officials in the country as opposed to flying a whole bunch of them in and catering for that cost.

“On top that, we want our officials to be just as qualified so that Fiji can become a hub of activities of technical official courses, level one coaching courses as well as track meets within the Pacific.”

The Melanesian Games was last held in 2009 and Fiji will be the first country to host the event since its revival. The event is expected to attract 350 athletes, 80 officials and 100 volunteers.

Rodan said with such a big event, it is appropriate they start their season now in order to prepare their athletes.

“The focus over here is basically our build up moving on towards next year which will be big year for us,” he said.

“There will be U18, Open grade, the Masters and Paralympic categories that athletes will be taking part in and the Melanesian Games is something we are greatly looking forward.

The Melanesian Games is scheduled for July 3-9.

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