Bolabiu named for personality award January 09, 2009
Globe trotting referee James Bolabiu has been nominated for the 2008 Telecom Fiji and FASANOC Sports Personality of the Year category.
The 26-year-old is Fiji’s first referee to officiate at a Rugby 7s World Cup - being nominated for the tournament in in Dubai later this year.
He is one of the five contenders for the much anticipated award which will be presented at the Tradewinds Entertainment Centre in March.
Bolabiu has shot to prominence in the last two years with the help of International Rugby Board referee manager Paddy O’Brien.
He officiated in the final of the George 7s between South Africa and New Zealand and this was his second appearance as a referee in the main final of the IRB 7s series.
The Sports Personality of the Year award is one of nine awards presented by the Fiji Olympic Committee.
FASANOC executive Vivienne Blake said the awards night was introduced in 1990 to recognise the dedicated contribution to sports by the people of Fiji.
“We’ve nominated the people who stay behind the scene and are the driving force behind the athletes’ path to stardom,” Blake said.
“It is their committed effort, most often voluntary towards the administration, management and organisation that will be recognised.”
The five sporting personalities were selected by the media panel based on their performance during the past year while the public will get to vote for their choice for Sports Personality by simply using Telecard, QuickDial and EasyTel which is the services of official sponsors Telecom Fiji.
Also nominated for the top award is Nadi Rugby Union coach Iliesa Tanivula, Bati coach Josaia Rabele, Fiji's first gold medalist at the Commonwealth Games Manueli Tulo and world reknowned golfer Vijay Singh.
Other awards presented include Administrator of the Year, Coach of the Year, National Fair Play Awards, Photographer of the Year, Volunteer Recognition of the Year, Organisation of the Year, Technical Official of the Year and FASANOC Athlete of the Year in both Male and Female categories.
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