The 10 competing nations for the 2014 FIBA-USP Oceaniia Under-19 Basketball Championships have been reminded that sport is more than just fun.

This was the main message from Fiji's roving ambassador Litia Mawi who was the chief guest at the official welcome reception for the contingents last night at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

"We take sport so much for granted thinking it is just a fun game or fun activities not knoAwing that should actually stand up and take part in physical activities instead of being stuck behind our computers or in front of the television," she said.

Mawii reminded the teams of the growing importance of sports as a tool for establishing and strengthening diplomatic relations.

"All I can do is assure you that on behalf of the government, we offer you not just whatever hospitality we can give because this is a very importnat area for us which is sports diplomacy because we are conscious that for the generations born after the 1980, fun doesn't have to be at the opposite end of work," she said.

"That's where you differ from the previous generations; you have fun. You develop solidarity as a team and you also develop the spirit to win.

"So we know that that is going to be the spirit of sportsmanship that you will all share," she added.

"So on behalf of the Government and the people of Fiji, I extend once again a warm welcome. Wish you all the best and enjoy the tournament," she concluded.

Basketball Fiji president Ioane Naivalurua echoed similar sentiments.

"Today we are here simply to honour our young men and women from 10 different countries.

"It is indeed my pleasure, responsibility and honour to welcome you all on behalf of FIBA Oceania," he said.

FIBA Oceania president Burton Shipley acknowledged the efforts of Basketball Fiji, Fiji Sports Council and Fiji National Sports Commission in organising and hosting the event.

"It has been just superb to watch you from Canberra going about getting everything organised and to see so many names on that sponsorship board shows to me that somebody has done quite a lot of work," he said.

"I have to thank the Fiji Sports Council and the Fiji National Sports Commission.

"Thank you for what you've done.

"Wish you all the best for the week ahead.

"Play hard and enjoy yourselves while you are here," he added.

The official reception was hosted at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva last night and attended by the team captains, coaches, referees and dignitaries for the competing countries.

The 2014 FIBA-USP Oceania Under19 Basketball Championships kicks off today with the official opening ceremony to start at 10.30am at the Vodafone Arena in Laucala Bay, Suva followed by the first two games at 1pm between Australia and American Samoa and Guam and Papua New Guinea respectively.

 

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Eroni Tuinaceva