Fiji Association of Sports & National Olympic Committee E-NEWSLETTER MARCH– APRIL 2010 UPCOMING FASANOC EVENTS IN A P R — M A Y : 2009 Sports Awards 14: 1st Executive Board Meeting FASANOC Sports the Year nomi- Coach of the Year 30: Fiji Games Launch Awards was held on nees selected by Bola Petueli Tafo’ou – Athletics Saturday 6th March at the media and Fiji 30: Coke Light Games Holiday Inn Suva. Over the winner re- Administrator of the Year M A Y 250 people attended sulting from the Anthony Ho – Fiji Table Tennis the function repre- total number of 3-7: Oceania Weightlifting Association senting different public votes Championships Technical Official of the Year Sports. The Awards received via Chris Waqa – Athletics Fiji were introduced in Vodafone texting 1990 to recognize the and Fiji Times Volunteer of the Year dedicated contribution coupons. Nicholas Wong - Basketball Fiji to sports by people, Winners of the Sports Organisation of the Year very often volun- 2 0 0 9 Fiji Table Tennis Association teers, who work Ryan Pini presents Maria FASANOC behind the scene Liku with her award Sports Photograph of the Year Sports Awards: and are the driving force of “The Moment” – by Joseph INSIDE THIS athletes’ paths to stardom. Male Athlete of the Year Amputch, Fiji Hockey Federation Manueli Tulo – Fiji Weightlifting I S S U E : The winners for the awards Presidents Commendation Federation were decided by a panel of Iliesa Delana – Fiji Paralympics 2009 Sports Per- 02 judges appointed by the Female Athlete of the Year Association, Athlete sonality Maria Liku – Fiji Weightlifting FASANOC Executive Board Krishneel Nair – Fiji Chess with the Sports Personality of Federation USP Student 02 Association, Technical Official Wins Return trip to NZ 60th Anniversary 02 Newly Appointed Vice Presidents Awards FASANOC held its Annual Gen- South at Nasese Medical STOP HIV 03 Champions rep- eral Assembly on Wednesday 24 Pacific Centre. resent Fiji March at Fiji Olympic House Games. Radhika Prasad, where the Annual Report and She is Vanessa Kilner and International 03 audited Financial Report were c u r - Dr De Asa join Presi- Women's Day received and adopted. rently dent Vidhya Lakhan, We congratulate re-elected Vice Spon- Chris Yee, Vidhya Lakhan Vice Presidents Tomi 2010 STOP HIV 03 President Radhika Prasad and sorship/ & Atma Maharaj at AGA Finau, Glynis Miller, Champions warmly welcome newly elected Public Chris Yee and Ath- Vice Presidents Vanessa Kilner Relations Manager at Telecom Fiji letes Representative Leena News In Brief 04 and Dr Virgilio De Asa . Limited (TFL). Dr Virgilio De Asa Pratt as the 2010 FASANOC Vanessa Kilner comes with comes with huge background in Executive Board. FASANOC Sports Administration, as a long Volunteers join 04 background in Sports Admini- sincerely thanks outgoing Vice FASANOC stration having been involved serving President of Fiji Chess Presidents Atma Maharaj with Fiji Outrigger Canoe Racing Federation as well as having and Vivienne Blake for their Association and was also the served as Team Doctor on previ- outstanding contributions to Competition Manager for the ous Team Fiji outings. Dr De Asa Sports during their terms of Outrigger Venue at the 2003 is currently a Medical Practitioner office. P A G E 2 The Fiji Association of 2009 Sports Personality Sports & National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) would like to thank its the 4x100m and 4x400m Re- Vodafone providing a text platform sponsors and partners for lays. Niko also represented Fiji to the public wishing to vote for their generous support: in the 400m event at the 2008 the Sports Personality of the FASANOC CORPORATE Beijing Olympics and the World Year. Fiji Times readers also voted SPONSORS Athletics Championships plus the via a coupon. Communications Fiji 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Ltd also supported the promotion Games. At the 2007 Pacific with air time on their radio stations Games in Samoa he also won FM96, Navtarang, Legend FM, Ra- Ryan Pini & Niko Verekauta Gold in 200m and 400m events dio Sargam and Viti FM. plus the 4x100m and 4x400m Niko Verekauta of Athletics Fiji Relays. was named the Sports Personality A total of 5 personali- of the Year 2009. Niko, was the ties representing differ- winner of 5 Gold medals at the ent sports were being Pacific Mini Games in the Cook voted for in a public Islands last September in the voting program facili- 100m, 200m and 400m events and tated this year through USP Student Wins trip to Auckland Bulou Kalesi a first year Uni- their favorite sports personality, versity of the South Pacific via Vodafone text message or (USP) student won a return voting coupons in the Fiji Times trip for 2 to Auckland, New – the print media partner for the Zealand under the 2009 awards. FASANOC Sports Personality The five finalists were Makelesi of the Year promotion in Batimala Bulikiobo (Athletics), partnership with Vodafone. Bulou Kalesi, Ligavatu Gukisuva Banuve Tabakaucoro (Athletics), Bulou is the younger sister of & Cathy Mausio Iliesa Tanivula (Rugby 7s – 2009 FASANOC Sports Coach), Manueli Tulo Personality Winner Niko Vodafone's Ligavatu Gukisuva. (Weightlifting) and Niko Verekauta. She was really sur- While supporting her brother in Verekauta (Athletics). the promotion, she spent more prised when she was presented The awards were also supported with a return ticket for 2 to than $50 in texting and filled any Fiji Times coupon she could find. by official radio partner Commu- Auckland, New Zealand by Air nications Fiji Limited . Pacific's Cathy Mausio and Members of the public voted for FASANOC SUPPORTERS 60th Anniversary Awards Another set of 60th Anniversary Anniversary awards this distin- Awards were presented at the were requested guished rec- FASANOC Awards night. throughout the year, ognition. A total of 4 awards were pre- with a judging panel Sadly Luke sented by IOC member Dr selecting the top 30 Tuinabuna Robin Mitchell to the O’Donnell- administrators and passed away top 30 athletes Family for the Late Sir Hugh Dr Mitchell & Luke Tuinabuna a week after Ragg, Luke Tuinabuna, - who demon- joining his Merewai Turukawa and Sam strated Excellence, Ethics & sporting colleagues at the Yavala. Integrity and for their contribu- Awards Night and receiving his tion to FASANOC - to receive Nominations for these 60th 60th Anniversary Award. FIJI ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS & NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMI T T E E E-NEWSLETTER P A G E 3 STOP HIV Champions represent Fiji The regional team of STOP STOP HIV, Joanna barriers, build self-esteem, teach life skills HIV Champions including Ferris said youth can and foster teamwork, camaraderie and an national athletes from Fiji, take advantage of the enabling environment. Sport offers an Vanuatu and Kiribati, took part opportunities offered alternative lifestyle and provides youth in the Pacific Youth and Sport by sports and bring with opportunities to be involved on a Conference in New Zealand about behavior range of levels contributing to both their to create awareness on HIV. change. physical and mental health,” Ferris said. The STOP HIV Champions are “The objectives for former or current national representatives and the STOP HIV team at the Conference engaged to be role models. STOP HIV tar- was to raise awareness of the pro- gets sporting events as the platform to deliver gram, the athletes and the role that its outreach on the education on the prevention of sport can play in the response to HIV. HIV and AIDs. Regional Programme Manager for Sport has the ability to break down FASANOC Sponsor Air Pacific makes it possible for our athletes and offi- International Women's Day cials to travel to their competitions. FASANOC Women in Sport Com- tees of national federations. more women into higher- level mission hosted breakfast on 8th Women play a major role in the positions in sports and commemo- Over the last month, March at Fiji Olympic House in upbringing of our amateur sports rate IWD, they were not the only the following sports support and celebration of Interna- people and have a lot to offer to ones present as a few men also were assisted by Air tional Women's Day (IWD). The the administration of sports in Fiji. attended. The Women in Sport Pacific: theme for this year's IWD was Altogether, there are 40 national Commission is now gearing up to "Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: federations of FASANOC with their "Women Walk on Wednes- Men's Bowls x 4 Progress for all". very few of them presided by day" which will commence in the Athletics x 6 The Chief-Speaker for the break- women. The WIS Commission also coming weeks. Table Tennis x 14 fast was Deputy Vice-Chancellor of encourages more women to take active roles and participation in the University of the South Pacific (U.S.P) Dr Esther Williams. sports and on sports committees. Women need to take more initia- According to Dr Williams, women tive on sports committees, as their should not be shy in getting in- ideas will bring a difference and volved in sports and offer their development to the table. While services onto executive commit- the breakfast was held to boost 2010 STOP HIV Champions 2010 STOP HIV Champions were welcomed Saimone Turaganivalu the next 12 months. at a Retreat Workshop in Pacific Harbour Weightlifting STOP HIV now has a from 12—14 March. The aim of the work- Filo Korovulavula Netball total of 20 Champions. shop was to introduce them to the program Seruwaia Vonolagi Netball The role of the STOP and equip them with basic HIV and AIDS HIV Champions are to knowledge. James Bolabiu Rugby 7’s develop and implement a This year’s Champions include: Josua Koroibulu Rugby League sports/games based cur- Iliesa Namosimalua Athletics Lepani Nabuliwaqa Rugby 7’s 2010 STOP HIV Champions riculum that uses fun to engage youth and bring Brittany Hazelman Basketball Mereoni Lewesi Volleyball about behavior change (Kicking AIDS Out) Jesse Sikivou Basketball Rosa Dalituicama Volleyball and to utilise sporting events as a platform Inoke Niubalavu Baseball & Softball Assn These Champions will remain on board for from which to deliver education in an engag- ing and non confronting environment.