Eleven out of the 12 sports that will represent Fiji to the Pacific Mini Games have paid their levies.
FASANOC chief executive Vanessa Kilner revealed this while clarifying the levies imposed on the respective National Sporting Organisations as well as the grant given by the Fiji National Sports Commission.
“All sports have paid their levies except one for Palau,” she said.
Team Fiji will need $3.5million to send its 186 athletes alongside team officials and support staff to the Mini Games in Palau.
Kilner gave a brief breakdown of the major parties involved in ensuring the funds are paid.
“There is a long-standing agreement between three parties: FASANOC, government and the National (Sporting) Federations each to pay 1/3 of the total cost. In actual fact, the NFs only get pay approximately 30% only (not the 33.3% which is 1/2) FASANOC pays the balance.
“In this particular case, we have always stated; it cost just over $3m to send the team to Palau which is approximately $16,000 per person.
“Already, I am sure you can appreciate that 1/3 of this is approximately $5300 per person,” the FASANOC CEO explained.
She acknowledged that the government through the Fiji National Sports Commission has given its share of the agreement.
“Yes, government has paid their share, this is not the issue — the issue here is the National Federation that is responsible has not complied with their responsibilities and protecting their athletes but adding more stress on them in paying their own way.
“This is unacceptable. But not all Federations are like that; some Federations are fantastic!”
Kilner also stressed that FASANOC does not levy the athletes.
They only deal with the respective national sporting federations.
“Make no mistake; this levy is for the National Federations to pay for – not the athletes. what the National Federations do with their share of the expense is beyond my control, I apologise I cannot comment on that.”
The Pacific Mini Games is scheduled to begin on June 29 and runs on until July 9 in Palau.
