4 Jun 2015

Fiji's sports association hoping for minimal rule changes on flag

8:12 am on 4 June 2015

Fiji's sports association says it wants to be able to continue using the national flag on swimwear.

no caption

Photo: AFP

A select committee is hearing public submissions this week on the National Flag Protection Bill, which sets out rules and punishments for use and misuse of the new flag, which is to be chosen before October the 10th.

The current flag is part of the logo of Team Fiji, which will have to change once the new flag is chosen.

A Government MP, Brij Lal, says he's concerned about the flag appearing on underwear and swimwear.

The CEO of the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, Lorraine Mar, says she's hoping for the status quo to be maintained.

"In terms of swimwear that is part of an athletes uniform. We would like to have that freedom. I think that the flag of a county instills a sense of pride and athletes compete under the flag of their country, so we would like to be able to continue to do that."

Lorraine Mar says she hopes the new flag will feature the same blue as the current flag, which is popular and iconic.