With the Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau now etched in the annals of history since its conclusion on July 9, Team Fiji’s athletics officials to the Games were overcome with a sense of pride seeing the results of the hard work and preparation put in by all involved.
This was shared by Team Fiji athletics manager Iva Volavola, who stated the national athletics contingent of mostly young athletes had performed at the Games to their very best.
In highlighting their respective achievements, she reflected on their preparation process through the training sessions they had leading up to the Games.
“We were very emotional; the coaches, the managers, just to see these children coming over and to see how they train at the stadium,” Volavola recalled.
“They’re giving their all, they are wanting to get there so the first thing is, it’s the athletes themselves who have to want to be there, want to make those times.
It may have proven timely for the athletes since Team Fiji’s sprinters, middle and long-distance runners and throwers returned home with 11 gold, 11 silver and eight bronze medals.
The medals won added to the final tally of Fiji’s spoils at the games – 27 gold, 30 silver and 24 bronze medals.
Volavola added the team did what it set out to do, as part of a broader mission to prepare the athletes in the national team for future events such as the Olympic Games.
“We did our homework. You can say we were doing our homework, so we all agreed that this was going to be the initial phase to ensure that our athletes, Fiji athletes get to the next Olympics on merit,” she emphasised.
As Fiji will now set its sights on major international sporting competitions as such, the recent Mini Games in Palau could serve as a preparatory ground for the many young Fijian athletes who competed in it.
