Swim champs new date

Fiji will host the Oceania Swimming Championship on July 21-27 next year.

The Olympic qualifying event was set for June-21 this year and has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Oceania Swimming Association agreed the event be rescheduled which is great,” Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova said. He said domestic programmes and competitions for the year would be discussed and rescheduled soon.

“We will ensure that we come up with a calendar that does not burden families,”he said.

Fiji Swimming has also laid out strict guidelines to be followed regarding training at the pool for the eight athletes vying for the two Olympic spots.

“Fiji Swimming was grateful to FASANOC for providing gym sets for our eastern and western based elite swimmers vying for Olympic selection,”he said.

Rova said budget submission to Fiji National Sports Commission would focus on the Oceania Championship, competitions and local programmes, workshop and trainings.

“With the success at the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, we’ve established an Elite Programme whereby we retain our high achievers with scholarship grants,”he said. The eight swimmers preparing for the Olympic qualification are Moana Wind, Matelita Buadromo, Yolani Blake, Cheyenne Rova, Taichi Vakasama, Netani Ross, Epeli Rabua and Temafa Yalimaiwai.