Vodafone Cup starts on July 18, accreditation a must
The Fiji National Rugby League is sticking with the July 18 start of the Vodafone Cup championship. This was confirmed yesterday by FNRL acting chief executive officer Don Natabe. “That will depend on Government’s announcement on the lifting of bans and restrictions,” he said. Natabe said all sporting federations are required to be accredited by the Fiji National Sports Commission for a safe return to play.
“We’ve set July 18 for the Vodafone Cup if restrictions on all contact sports are lifted.
“But firstly, we’ve to be accredited. It is a requirement by the Commission, it is a COVID Safe Fiji Sports Accreditation.” Commission executive chairman Peter Mazey told SUNsports that all national sporting organisations should abide by it. He indicated they’re working with all NSO’s to assist in the preparation of their protocols and has given them contacts for their sports international guidelines to assist them.
“In meetings with the Permanent
Secretary of Health and her professional technical team, it was stressed that these protocols must be sector driven and that a sports sector framework including an accreditation system must be put in place,” he said.
“This to ensure the guiding principles for safe sport, inclusive of evaluating, monitoring and auditing.
“Sports, training, competitions and physical activity is seen as a strong sector in assisting with quick socio-economic recovery and we have taken it on board with urgency.
“To ensure compliance and that all National Sports Organisations establish correct protocols for their own sport.
“This includes the facilities they use, the competitions they plan, and their training and development plans, each NSO must put in place their sports sector specific guidelines.”
Mazey said sports facility operators and sports associations are given application forms to fill and submit upon completion.
“The most important part of this is the application form which must be completed to enable them to become accredited,” he added.