Fiji wins Games

Sport

FIJI created history when it won the Fourth South Pacific Mini Games which ended in Port Vila, Vanuatu on December 16. The first time it has topped the medal tally at a South Pacific Mini Games. The last time Fiji tasted victory was in 1963 at the inaugural South Pacific Games in Suva when it won 14 gold medals.

At last month’s Vanuatu games Fiji won 16 gold, the same number as runner up New Caledonia. However, Fiji won a total of 56 medals (16 gold, 19 silver and 21 bronze) compared to New Cale donia’s 40 medals (16 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze). In third place was French Polynesia with 14 gold, seven silver and nine bronze while the winners of the Ninth South Pacific Game in 1991, Papua New Guinea, was in fourth •position with six gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze. Hosts Vanuatu were in fifth

place.

In all 15 countries competed. They were Fiji, New Caledonia, French Poly nesia, PNG, Vanuatu, Tonga, Western Samoa, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, American Samoa, Norfolk Islands, Guam, Nauru, Niue, and Northern Marianas.

In the close finish, Fiji on the final day secured glory by picking up five of the eight athletics gold medals on offer, three silvers and a bronze. Fiji’s men’s and women’s relay teams won all four gold, broke three Mini Games records and bettered three SPG records. Fiji’s fifth gold was won by marathon runner Binesh Prasad.

Overall Fiji won more athletics medals than any other country with 15 gold.

New Caledonia won 14 gold in athletics.

It was the best performance ever by any Fiji athletics team at a South Pacific Games. Their performance was attri buted to a development programme activated after the 1991 SPG. This covers coaches, administrators, technical offi cers and athletes. Also contributing to their success is overseas training and competition, government support and corporate sponsorship notably the Mobil Elite squad programme. This entails the cream of Fiji athletics picked for special treatment.

Fiji officials say this programme must be continued and there must be an increase in funding if Fiji is to be on top at the 1995 SPG in French Polynesia.

The Fifth South Pacific Mini Games will be held in American Samoa in 1997.

The only thing to dampen Fiji’s celebrations after their win in Vanuatu

was the death of Fiji’s President, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau at Ipm that afternoon.

However, most of the Fiji camp were un aware of his death until later that night.

All rivalry was for gotten at the closing ceremony of the Vanuatu games at the Korman Sta dium as competitors and officials from all participating countries danced and sang together. The dancing and the

singing went one for a good one hour following the formal closing ceremonies and cultural items.

HERE’s the final medal tally

Yad Singh Dancers: at the the opening of the Games in Port Vila

Fiji G 16 S 19 B 21 T 56 New Caledonia 16 13 11 40 French Polynesia 14 7 9 30 Papua New Guinea 6 13 18 37 Vanuatu 5 3 4 12 Tonga 4 4 4 12 Western Samoa 3 1 5 9 Solomon Islands 2 3 4 9 Cook Islands 1 0 0 1 American Samoa 0 2 1 3 Norfolk Island 0 1 0 1 Guam 0 1 0 1 Nauru 0 0 0 0 Niue 0 0 0 0 Northern Marianas 0 0 0 0 Total 67 67 77 211