All 24 National Federations (NF) have shown their in­terest to participate in the 24 sports offered at the Solomon Islands Pacific Games in Honiara, which is from November 19 to De­cember 2, next year.

This was confirmed by Team Fiji Chef de Mission Ajay Ballu follow­ing his appointment yesterday.

Ballu was appointed by the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) ex­ecutive board.

He indicated plans are in place to contingent of 530 people with 480 are athletes.

Of the 24 sports, there are eight team sports, which includes rugby sevens for both men’s and women’s, rugby league nines, basketball, vol­leyball, touch rugby, beach soccer, hockey and netball.

“All national federations have con­firmed their participation for now.

“NF’s will be required to submit their team selection criteria, which will be heavily scrutinised,” he said.

“We will also look at working with the High Performance Commission to administer fitness tests for the teams to ensure only those athletes who pass these tests become select­ed members of Team Fiji.

“This includes members of teams, so athletes, coaches and team man­agers must realise that we are not going for a holiday and if they do not meet the requirements, they will not be going.”

The sports to be played at the Games are: archery, athletics, bas­ketball, 3×3 basketball, bodybuild­ing, boxing, football, beach soccer, futsal, golf, hockey, karate, netball, outrigger canoeing, powerlifting, rugby league nines, rugby sevens, sailing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, touch rugby, tri­athlon, volleyball, beach volleyball and weightlifting.

“Team Fiji was placed fifth at the last Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa in 2019 and will be looking at finish­ing in the top three in Solomon Is­lands,” Ballu added.

Coaches and team managers must undertake Oceania Sports Educa­tion Program (OSEP) courses if they wish to be part of Team Fiji.

“A reminder that any team man­ager or coach hoping to be a part of Team Fiji will have to undergo OSEP courses or their equivalent if this is their first time taking up a role or have a valid certification from 2018 to date.”

The OSEP team manager’s course began on Tuesday and will be held throughout the week.

Four positions for Team Fiji gen­eral managers for the Games will be advertised soon.

Meanwhile, senior Team Fiji ad­ministrator Jane Wong-Niubalavu and Ballu will be travelling to Solo­mon Islands next week to attend the Chef de Missions’ meeting to inspect the venues and accommoda­tion.

Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj