Sporting federations have been recommended to postpone all games until next year due to the measles outbreak.

The call came from the Fiji National Sports Commission, Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports who all supported the plea by the Ministry of Health

Commission chairman Peter Mazey said health and safety of players and fans were paramount.

“The gathering of youth and people for sporting events at this current time is not right and we should discourage it,” Mazey said.

“It’s only a recommendation. And we are pleased that the Beach Volleyball Association and the Grasshoppers Netball Championships have been cancelled.

“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has asked us to look at the postponement of all sporting events.

“We already know the number of sporting events that will be held this month.

“Working with the Ministry of Health we are going to try and stop it now that we have 15 cases in the country.

“The commission fully supports the welfare of the athletes after the Ministry of Health and Medical Services requesting proper precautionary measures. Measles spread very easily and fast among large groups.”

Prevention better than cure

Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Maritino Nemani has assured the public that the cancellation of the sporting events will help prevent the spread of measles.

“It’s better to prevent than cure so we have to be cautious and take preventive measures I believe it the change in behaviours,” he said.

“The Government is supporting other sporting organisations to exercise that caution and also to make good in-form decisions.

“The approach we take to these kinds of situations should be really serious and we only one life once.

“We lose it that’s it.

“We can’t get it back.

“We can always postpone, there is always the next year, we can get this tournament back so please exercise wisdom and caution.

“We don’t want to have loss of lives when we have a national issue like this.”

Edited by Osea Bola

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