A new roadmap is being developed to better equip sporting organisations during this period of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new guidelines will come into force once the all clear is given for a return to the grounds.

The roadmap is being developed by the Fiji National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

This was confirmed by the Commission’s executive chairman, Peter Mazey who said the guidelines will ensure sports organisations comply with what will be the new norm for sports.

“Sports is fully supporting Government through this current crisis and fully understands their responsibilities to keep all our athletes safe,” Mazey said.

“We are planning a new roadmap for post crisis and I’m sure we will all have to put in new guidelines to return to safe sports.”

Once approved by all stakeholders, Mazey says, all national sporting organisations will be asked to relook at their current Safe Sports Fiji and align themselves to the newly drawn charter.

The Commission, he says, realises a larger responsibility and that being the health of all Fijians and is planning extensive wellness programmes for all communities.

Mazey said this would only be achieved through a concerted effort.

“The realisation that a large portion of our population has been in lockdown means that we will through wellness programmes  be able to help all our age groups in their physical activity not just organised sports,” he added.

“This is an ongoing challenge and what all sports development officers and staff are working on during this lockdown period.”

Funding

Mazey again reiterated that sporting organisations should not expect any additional or special funding in the 2021/2022 budget for sports.

“This is because the sporting federations did not request funding from the Government via the Fiji National Sports Commission,” he said.

With COVID-19 sweeping all sporting competitions around the country, Mazey says, the Commission has been closely liaising with national sporting federations on requests for additional funding.

“We will not be requesting any additional or new funding at this time and no sport has requested such a grant,” he said.

Mazey, however, recognised funding assistance from international federations which had been released to national federations.

These are organisations like World Rugby, Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Rugby League and the Olympic Solidarity Fund.

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