Wednesday 7th October 2009
Team Fiji held a Victory March and Celebratory Luncheon yesterday after their Victorious return from the Cook Islands on the weekend. FASANOC hosted the event in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Suva City Council and the Fiji Sports Council. Acting President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was the special guest at the luncheon.
The Team gathered outside Suva's Flea Market at midday, before being lead through the city streets to the Suva Civic Centre by the Police Marching Band, cheered on by hundreds of shoppers, merchants and office workers - some of whom were climbing out their windows just to see the Team and show their appreciation.
At the Civic Centre, the Team adjourned to the auditorium for a luncheon with their sponsors and special guests, including the Minister for Youth and Sports, Filipe Bole, and the Acting President, who addressed the team.
It was a fantastic opportunity for the Team to show off their achievements, meet the sponsors and special guests and of course carry on the new friendships they formed in the Cook Islands.
Ratu Epeli spoke to the Team before lunch as the Chief Guest. He proved popular from the start when he said he would keep his speech brief since it was lunchtime!
Photos from the Victory March and Luncheon can be found here
Ratu Epeli's speech to Team Fiji:
The Minister for Education, National Heritage, Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr Filipe Bole;
The President, Fiji association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Mr Vidhya Lakhan;
Representatives of Team Fiji Sponsors;
Team Fiji Chef de Mission, Mr Patrick Bower;
Team Fiji Section Managers, Technical Officials and Athletes; and
Invited Guests
Greetings to you all
Ni Sa Bula Vinaka
Namaste
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to spend some time with you all today.
Just three weeks ago, I told some of you, who represented Team Fiji at the Ai Tatau ceremony at Government House that “the people of Fiji expect nothing short of victory”.
I had no doubt that it would happen, and over the past 2 weeks, you have proved me right - today you are here as a victorious Team Fiji.
Your 32 Gold, 25 Silver and 24 Bronze medals are just reward for all the preparation, dedication, hard work and sacrifices made by you all in the lead up to these Pacific Mini Games in the Cook Islands.
Yours was a young Team Fiji and for many of you it was the first taste of international competition, but you competed extraordinarily well, putting in all your efforts and more, and in doing so have proved that Fiji is a genuine sporting powerhouse of the Pacific. You can therefore hold your heads high, having worn the Fiji colours with pride and with respect.
From this experience, many of you will go on to bigger and tougher competitions. But I truly believe that there are future Olympic and World Champions among you. So, I encourage you not to limit your aspirations, but to continue to work hard toward reaching your goals.
It is my most welcome duty today to speak again on behalf of the people of Fiji, who I know are immensely proud of your achievements, having followed your progress at the Games every day. So thank you for representing our country, Fiji, so well. You can rest assured that the people of Fiji are look forward to cheering you on in your next international challenge.
This brief welcome home and congratulatory ceremony will end with a luncheon which is a token of appreciation to acknowledge your sporting prowess exhibited during the 12 days of intense Pacific rivalry in 15 sports in the Cook Islands.
This Luncheon enables the sporting and the general population to share the moments and bask in your sporting milestone, as Team Fiji.
Thank you
Vinaka Vakalevu
Dhanyavaard
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