French Ambassador Commissions Chambault Ground

French Ambassador to Fiji François-Xavier Léger while naming the Na­kasi High School playing field after Miriama Kadavu Tuisorisori Chambault yesterday said there were many reasons why Fiji’s first woman Olympian was part of the project.

“She (Miriama Chambault) is a beacon of hope for many Fijian sporting women who have come through Fiji’s rich athletics background and the fact, she has had an il­lustrious career in athletics spanning about 14 years with many achievements to her name,” Leger said.

The project is part of their (France) road to the coming Paris Olympic under the Terre de Jeux 2024 initiative towards the Paris Olympics and Paralympics in 2024.

The ground will be known as the Miriama Tuisorisori Chambault field for one year.

NHS progressed in sports this year, win­ning the Triple N zone and its first gold med­al at the Coca-Cola Games that made it the best choice for the project.

While commissioning the ground, Léger ac­knowledged NHS principal Praveen Chand and Chambault for accepting their proposal to be part of the Road to Paris initiative.

“This initiative, is one of its kind in the history of the Games, with local authorities taking action to promote more developed and inclusive participation in sport, at town and regional levels, engaging with various stakeholders in the sporting movement,” he said.

The aims of this project are to raise aware­ness of and promote emblematic sports routes, encourage ecosystem to move and strengthen the embassy’s links with the lo­cal sports movement.

“The Embassy of France (Fiji) by imple­menting this initiative at this school high­lights our commitment to increasing the reach of sport by promoting community stakeholders, who will form the champions of tomorrow.”

In conjunction to the commissioning, Tow­er Insurance donated $500 worth of sporting equipment while Vodafone Fiji gave $650 as part of their sponsorship.

FASANOC provided timely assistance in getting Chambault on board for the Terre de Jeux 2024 label.

Chambault is now a member of the World Olympic Association. She was inducted into the Fijian Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.

She represented Fiji in athletics at the 1969, 1971 and 1975 South Pacific Games and Com­monwealth Games in 1974.

She represented New Caledonia at the 1979 and 1983 South Pacific and Mini Games then represented France in the World Cup and European Championships from 1979 to 1995.

‘No amount of words can describe the calibre, determination and success (Mrs) Chambault. This is true testament to a fine and outstanding Fijian sportswoman. I am confident that Fiji will continue to produce women athletes that not only will leave a mark on the national stage but also on the international forefront.

“We may never know, as sports provide end­less opportunities, students from this school may in the near future will not only go on to represent Fiji in rugby, football, and athlet­ics but also make a career out of it.”

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