Fijian athletes to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games will have Government’s backing through the presence of Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, Iliesa Delana.

Delana, Fiji’s first gold medallist from the 2012 London Paralympic Games, flew out to Rio de Janeiro yesterday to support Fiji’s Paralympic campaign which will be from September 6-18.

Youth and Sports permanent secretary Alison Burchell says, “Having the assistant minister in Rio supporting the team will be a great motivation for the two athletes.  He has “been there and done that” so he will be a valuable resource for the team as the Paralympic Games are a very different proposition from any other para event our two athletes have attended to date.”

Fiji is represented by high jumper Epeli Baleibau who competes in the F47 category on September 16 and Mere Rodan in table tennis who begins her charge on September 8 in the competitive class 5 category.

Delana was the first from the region, outside Australia and New Zealand, ever to win a gold medal at a Paralympic Games.

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