2 Sep 2009

Fiji sports body says Fiji will go to Commonwealth Games

1:57 pm on 2 September 2009

The president of the Fiji Association of Sport, Vidhya Lakhan, is adamant Fiji will take part in next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Mr Lakhan was responding to a statement from the Commonwealth Secretariat that Fiji will not be able to take part in the Games after it was suspended from the body.

But Mr Lakhan says he is not sure whether the Secretariat has the right to make such a statement.

Elma Ma'ua has more

"Mr Lakhan says the Commonwealth Games Federation is made up of 71 countries and is governed by its own charter, regulations and protocol. Mr Lakhan quotes Article 7 of the CGF constitution that states, there shall be no discrimination against any country or person on any grounds whatsoever, including race, colour, gender, religion and politics. He says if the Secretariat is trying to influence the CGF to bar Fiji from the Games then that is politics interfering with sports. Mr Lakhan says if Fiji is barred from the Delhi Games through pressure from the Secretariat, then the Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee will not take such a move lying down. The Committee has written to the CGF seeking clarification on Fiji's participation in Delhi and is hoping for a clear answer later in the week."