Suva, Fiji
Temp: 77 °F / 25.0 °C
Wind: 0.0 KMH
Mostly Cloudy
LOCAL NEWS
October 13, 2009 07:19:23 AM

Fiji can still participate in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next year if a proposal by the Commonwealth Games Federation to drop sport sanctions is accepted.

The CGF decided on Monday to ban Fiji from the 2010 Games after the island nation’s membership was suspended by the Commonwealth last month for not meeting certain conditions of membership, including holding early democratic elections.

However, according to Indian media reports, the CGF executive board has recommended the Commonwealth to remove sport as a part of sanction so that Fiji can take part in the Games.

“The General Assembly of the CGF has endorsed my proposal to lead a delegation to the Commonwealth Secretary General requesting him to take forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting a recommendation from us that sport be removed as part of the sanction imposed upon a nation suspended from the Commonwealth,” CGF president Mike Fennell is reported saying.

Fennell said if the proposal is accepted, Fiji can participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

“Among the CGF members, there’s great sympathy for the plight of Fijian athletes who are aspiring to compete in New Delhi,” said Fennell.

“Sport and sporting events should be exempted from political suspension.”

Seventy one nations and territories linked to the former British Empire are expected to feature in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled for October 3-14.

* Get the latest weather on your phone. Txt VLWH to 333 now

Post a Comment
Bookmark and Share
Posted Comments
No comments, but you can post the first comment!
SPORTS
Fiji bounces back to beat PNGFiji’s loss to Wales in their opening game did not discourage the Iliesa Tanivula-coached side after they ran in seven tries to beat Papua New Guinea 41-0 in their second pool game at day two of the Adelaide 7s.
BUSINESS
Steel price increase approvedSteel prices in Fiji have increased by up to eight percent following the Commerce Commission’s approval of a submission by Fletcher Pacific Steel.
WORLD
Rio case won't hurt China trade: AustraliaAustralia Friday voiced confidence its vital trade ties with China would not be harmed by next week's sensitive trial of an Australian mining executive charged with bribery and industrial espionage.
ENTERTAINMENT
Playmate's heirs left pennilessA US federal appeals court ruled Friday that Anna Nicole Smith's heirs will not receive a penny of the more than 300 million dollars she claimed to her billionaire husband's inheritance.
OFFBEAT
Chilean sailor returns cashA Chilean sailor returned four million pesos (7,600 dollars) in cash he found inside an open safe amid the rubble of a house destroyed by last month's devastating quake and tsunami, local media reported Friday.
FIJIAN
Tekivu na vuli e na ciwaSa vakadeitaka na minisitiri ni vuli ni na tekivutaki tiko na vuli e na ciwa na kaloko na vei mataka, ka sega e na walu.