It's More than Basketball

With less than four days to go until the FIBA-USP Under-19 Oceania Basketball Championship, Basketball Fiji has received all the help they can get in hosting the tournament.

Pacific Energy has come on board and sponsored a total of $5000 - $3000 in cash and $2000 worth of fuel vouchers for the tournament that starts on Monday, next week.

Fiji Basketball Association president Major General Ioane Naivalurua said basketball is more than a sport and plays an important part in bringing a nation together.

"This FIBA U19 Oceania Basketball Championship will be part of the young men and women development and a platform for them to really build up their character," Naivalurua said.

"Our motto in Basketball Fiji is "It's more than basketball". So we are using basketball as a means of growing people to become a better person, laying the right basic foundation for young men and women as good citizens of Fiji for future years.

"I thank you (Pacific Energy) for your kind sponsorship and your realisation that basketball is effectively contributing to nation building in Fiji in these young enerations of players who pass the ball.

"Also in addition to that, we recognise the fact, that sport is a very important part in unifying the society and bringing people together and aove all developing good relationship."

He added: "This particular event is not only within Fiji at a national level but more importantly within the region and I think that's the way to go when we talk about sports as a foreign policy tool.

"Government is a major funder who is funding all this and I recognise the fact and thank you for being in partnership with the Fiji Government of recognising the importance of tournaments such as this within Fiji and within the region.

"The strategic objective of government is to use sports as a form of diplomacy in reaching out and I believe that this is the right direction in establishing a firm base for our young men and women."

Naivalurua guaranteed that the $5000 will be used wisely as their main objectve of the tournament is that athletes get the best possible exposure.

Meanwhile, Pacific Energy chief executive officer Richard Champion agrees with the idea of brining communities together through sport as that is their main aim with the company sponsoring events.

"We are very proud and happy to partner with Basketball Fiji; this $5000 worth of sponsorship will go toward helping with the organisation and running of the tournament next week," Champion said.

"I think it is a great opportunity for Fiji to showcase their skills and talent and their biggest opponents will be Australia and New Zealand. For us, Pacific Energy's main aim is to connect with the community and we like to do that through sports."

 

Source: <http://fijisun.com.fj/2014/11/27/its-more-than-basketball/>

November 27, 2014, 
By Justine Mannan

 

 




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