Sports a Universal Language: PM

Sports has the power to bring people together de­spite their race and religious backgrounds, it con­nects a nation and countries across borders.

These were the words of Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while officiating the Fiji Sports Awards at the National Gymnasium last Friday.

Mr Bainimarama said sports connect people, it closes the gap of differences that exists within a country and a group of people.

“Whatever sport it may be, it is a means of communica­tion that transcends differences between societies, com­munities and individuals,” Mr Bainimarama said.

“When you meet someone new, someone that is from a different country, speaks a different language and looks different from you, you can make a connection with that person through sports,” he said.

“Sport has a foundation of strong friendship with people building blocks to create strong relationships between na­tions, whether it’s the Australian PM visited us early this year or the NZ deputy PM that visited us early this week, our relationship with the rest of the world is strong and growing.

“Our shared passion for sport underpins many partner­ships and other nations are keen in strengthening the sporting ties that bind our people.”

Mr Bainimarama said Fiji was not gifted with the global reputation for sporting excellence, however, the country’s reputation was earned by the commitment and dedication of Fiji sportsmen and sportswomen.

“The achievement of our coaches, teams, staff and com­petitors is what that puts our nation on the map for count­less sports fans around the world.

“Many of whom have never been to Fiji, some have never even met a Fijian but regardless, they know too well what we are capable of either on the rugby field, the netball court or the powerlifting arena.

“The hardwork of our athletes has given Fiji the global sporting reputation that it has today.

“Even amongst the world’s most important people the talent and competitive spirit of Fijian athletes is widely known and respected.

He said the annual sports awards was a platform to ac­knowledge the hardwork of our sportsmen and women who have carried the Fijian name over the years in the sporting arena.

“Tonight, we honour our women and men.

“Fijians whose achievements lift our spirits here at home and help build our reputation for sporting excellence that expands around the globe.

“At this award we recognise the hardworking athletes like Matelita Buadromo, Tevita Takayawa, Maria Liku, Manueli Tulo and Banuve Tabakaucoro.

“This evening we celebrate the most recent chapter of Fi­jian sports as we look back at another banner for Team Fiji.

“These achievements include a gold medal at the Oceania championship in New Zealand with the men’s indoor volleyball and another gold med­al in women’s hockey during the open day at the World Hockey series.

“Our women’s volleyball team won silver at the Oceania championship and also I would like to convey a special congratulations to our Fiji Barbarians deaf sevens team for taking bronze at the World Deaf Rugby Tournament last year, upsetting some pow­erhouse teams from other countries.”

He added that the Gov­ernments continuous in­vestment in supporting the sports sector has seen the opening of new fields, new stadi­ums, new gymnasium across the country giving our teams the local touch of inter­national level facili­ties they need to train and grant Fijians the opportunity to make sports and physical fitness a bigger part of their lives.

“We want to be more than a sporting powerhouse, we want to become a sporting destination we want our children growing up that you don’t need to be overseas to be­come a legend of the sporting world, that can happen right here in Fiji.

“That’s the main reason of our heavy investment in build­ing the capacity to host large scale regional and internation­al sporting events.”

Mr Bainimarama congratu­lated the awardees for their contribution to the sporting arena and encouraged them to continue working hard in representing country.