Laisenia Tuitubou said Fiji was grateful to host the Handy Finance Oceania Volleyball Championship which started at the Vodafone Arena in Suva yesterday.

The Minister for Youth and Sports made the comment in officially welcoming the seven participating nations from the region.

“You are here maybe because it has been quite a while since you have been given the opportunity to visit Fiji again,”Tuitubou said.

“Indeed, we are quite excited too because it has been after 26 years since Fiji has been given the opportunity to host this event. We are indeed proud to host this year’s Oceania Volleyball Championship.

“I thank the Oceania Volleyball board of directors for allowing our country Fiji this golden opportunity to host this event.

“Most of us feel that sport is just but a simple game, it is much more than just a game. It symbolises a beginning of something, a dream for an individual, and for a team, it also has an end which we all look forward to when we compete in a competition, either a win or a lose. Sport signifies renewal, as well as change.”

He said the Fijian Government was committed to sports development and has embraced the idea of a broader transformation of sports structures.

“As a result, the establishment of the Fiji National Sports Commission came into being to specifically institute a clear and manageable framework to guide and enhance the delivery of sports programme in the country, including the sport of volleyball.”

Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji will be challenging each other for the top positions.  There are a total of 17 teams of eight (8) men’s and nine (9) women’s teams.

Tuitubou said there was nothing more to anything that when you play, realise your potential, believe in yourself and play to the best of your ability.

“As you compete for the volleyball championship, remember to be a good ambassador, be humble in victory and be gracious in defeat.”

The finals will be played on Saturday.

Edited by Marika Delai.

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