The largest ‘wave’ of Team Fiji to the 2026 Commonwealth Games departed Nadi on Sunday morning for the long two days of travel to Glasgow.
The 29-member team, comprised of Chef de Mission, Ajay Ballu, team manager Jane Wong-Niubalau, Basketball, Bowls and Swimming teams together with Dr Wong and two physiotherapists of the medical 1team.
Travel was via Melbourne/Dubai where swimmer Anahira McCutcheon joined the team, whilst fellow team mate Tolu Young met the team in Glasgow after a four day training camp in Europe enroute from his college in the USA.
Team Fiji’s Jane Wong-Niubalau confirmed the teams arrival on Monday night, Scotland time, with the majority of the team in one ‘village’ while the swimming team is at another location closer to the competition venue.
The weightlifting team departed Nadi on Tuesday morning while the remaining athletics team and a physio will leave on Wednesday morning. The team will travel via Melbourne where Yeshnil Karan and Rusiate Matai will join the team. Both athletes have been training in Brisbane and Melbourne for the last few weeks of final preparation.
Judoka Gerard Takayawa, based in Japan will fly to Manchester on July 23, for a five day camp with UK based coach Mike Liptrot before joining the team in Glasgow on July 29.
The boxing team have had a 10 day training camp in Ireland with coach Cam Todd and met up with the main team in Glasgow on Monday. Para athlete Sitiveni Konataci and SnC Coach Fesaitu Mario having been based in the UK and Scotland for a GAPS Camp will meet up with the main athletics team in Glasgow on Thursday.
Travel is staggered as sports can only check into the Games villages four days prior to competition. Accommodation is spread over three hotels for the Games, rather than the traditional Games Village, given Glasgow stepped in only two years ago when Victoria, Australia withdrew from hosting the Games.
Excitement is building within the team who are looking forward to the opening ceremony that will be held on Thursday July 23.
Competition is scheduled to commence on July 24, however due to the large number of bowlers entered, their competition may start a day before.
Technical meetings will be held 1-2 days before competition where draws and schedules will be finalised.
Wishing Team Fiji all the very best for the 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games where 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will be competing in 10 sports.
