National Sports Commission re-looks at funding process
The Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC) will have to re-look at funding for sporting organisations in the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games to be staged next year.
The funding which is approved by government and the board of the commission is prepared for a four-year plan, says FNSC executive chairman, Peter Mazey.
“The preparation grants allocated to our Olympic sports is part of each sports four year plan so it is not just allocated this year.
“We will have to re-look at additional assistance due to the year’s delay and as such have had talks already with FASANOC and those sports such as rugby who have already qualified.
NEW BUDGET
“We need to look at new budgets and working together give new grant requests to Government understanding that they will have to be affordable and justifiable.” Mazey said that not all sporting bodies receive funding hence are faced with tight finances as the globe faces the coronavirus pandemic, forcing players and administrations to take pay cuts.
This is faced in the sports arena worldwide as all games and tournaments are on hold.
“It is very hard to place all national sporting organisations into the one big basket as there are only about six that receive major funding assistance through their International sports bodies or are attractive to major sponsors.
“It is obvious from reports being received from overseas that there is going to be a complete re-look at how sports is funded and especially how elite athletes are paid.
“Fiji will also have to look at our funding as I think it will be some time before Government can afford to provide grants in the same way as it has for the last 10 years.”
STRATEGIC PLANS
Mazey has asked all national sporting bodies to give in their strategic plans to help in the allocation of funds.
Most of the sporting bodies rely on such funding and sponsorship to keep their organisation and the games alive at this time. “I am currently writing to all NSO’s to ascertain where they are at and how they believe they can continue going forward. We will all need to work together and yes we will all have to look at new funding options for sports at all levels.
I do believe that the time has come that we can only look at those sports to attend as Team Fiji who have qualified on merit to attend their events. The days of athletes attending (but have not qualified) under universality spots, must be re-look at when funding the teams.”