Tribute to Chris Yee
THE Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) is deeply saddened by the untimely loss of Christopher Dard Keung Yee, fondly known as Chris, who succumbed to COVID-19 last week.
Chris joined the FASANOC family when he was 'recruited' in 2001 as a voluntary member of Team Fiji Management for the 2003 South Pacific Games that Fiji hosted. As part of his appointment he was allocated the responsibility for 7 contact sports. He took his responsibility passionately and diligently.
Whilse at school Chris represented MBHS at the Suva Zone and Nationals in 1972 and took part in regular weekly competitions from 1970 to 1973. He also played rugby, football, table tennis during his school days and then became engrossed in squash, as a player, coach, manager, and executive board member. He has played an important role in the development of several national federations including being a long time office bearer for weightlifting, table tennis and squash.
Chris took over as the secretary of the Fiji Weightlifting Federation (predecessor to Weightlifting Fiji) in 2002 and brought stability to the governance of that sport. Even though he resigned from his position from the weightlifting Fiji Eexecutive in 2012, he agreed to make a comeback in 2014 and led the sport as secretary-general for over a decade. Chris was a driving force for weightlifting Fiji and the development of the sport in Levuka. All elite weightlifters since 2003 benefited from Chris's passion and personal interest. He was instrumental in the progress and successes of top weightlifters including Joe Vueti, Ivy Shaw, Manueli Tulo, Maria Liku and Apolonia Vavai. He was an inspiration and encouragement to all the lifters even giving some of them employment as well as accommodation at his residence.
Chris personally funded top athletes with travel, gym and personal allowances to ensure that they succeeded in the sport. He held weekly face-to-face personal mentoring and review meetings with the athletes, drawing up long-term plans and measuring their progress against set benchmarks. Chris lifted the sport of weightlifting to another level, not only working closely with the athletes, but also encouraging, driving and training the executives.
Chris also went out of his way to help many minor sports such as boxing, karate and powerlifting with their development programs and supported elite athletes to successful national and international outings. Chris served as an executive board member as follows:
1995 - 2009 Squash Fiji and Fiji Squash Racquets Association vice president, executive member, coach, team captain, player
2006 - Life member, Squash Fiji after a long and distinguished service
2004 - 2013 Fiji Table Tennis Association – vice president (10 years)
2009 - Pacific Mini Games, Weightlifting Team section manager
2002-2014 - Weightlifting Fiji – secretary-general (12 Years)
2013 - Life member, Weightlifting Fiji for long and meritorious service
Chris had an open door policy for all athletes and offered good fatherly advice to many young athletes across many sports. His greatest trait was his personal belief in the capabilities of individual athletes and the desire to take them to their full potential.
Chris played a leading role with Team Fiji for almost two decades 2007-2019. His election as FASANOC vice president in 2007 was a natural progression, having previously been a Team Fiji general manager and chef de mission. He was instrumental in setting up many of the programs and systems still in use for Team Fiji finances, lottery and all important timelines. His meticulous care and perfection ensured Team Fiji was on track with all facets of preparation and participation. His role as a member of Team Fiji and FASANOC include:
2001 - 2003 - Pacific Games, Suva, Fiji - Team Fiji general manager
2004 - Commonwealth Youth Games, Bendigo, Australia - chef de mission - Team Fiji did the nation proud winning bronze in the Rugby 7s and bronze in Weightlifting.
2005 - Pacific Mini Games, Palau - deputy chef de mission
2006 - Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, Australia - chef de mission (unfortunately had to withdraw pre-departure due to serious ill health but later travelled to support the team)
2007 - Pacific Games, Apia, Samoa - deputy chef de mission
2007-2013 - FASANOC vice president
2008 - Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India - chef de mission - historic Gold medal and silver medal wins in weightlifting
2010 - Commonwealth Games, New Delhi, India – Appointed chef de mission (Fiji was subsequently suspended from the Commonwealth and the team did not travel)
2011 - Pacific Games, Noumea, New Caledonia – deputy chef de mission
2012 - Olympic Games, London, Great Britain – chef de mission
2014 - Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland – chef de mission
2015 - Pacific Games, Papua New Guinea – general manager
2017 - Pacific Mini Games, Vanuatu – general manager
2018 - Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia – general manager
2019 - Pacific Games, Samoa – general manager
Chris has been a pillar of support for the FASANOC staff for over two decades having served three full terms of six years on the FASANOC executive board as vice president finance. He was a person of great integrity that could be relied on and went the extra mile to get things done for FASANOC, Team Fiji, national federations and individuals.
Chris also made significant contributions and service to the community and his honesty and reliability was acknowledged by him being appointed a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 2002.
Chris was recognised by the Fiji Government in 2021 for his contributions to the country when he was awarded the 50th Anniversary Medal of Honour.
For his dedication and distinguished record of service to sport in Fiji, FASANOC conferred the Fiji Olympic Orderto Chris in 2014. His citation read he "has been the passion and life of several Fiji sports for almost 20 years."
Chris was laid to rest on Saturday, July 10 at the Chinese Cemetery in Suva.
Rest in peace our dear friend, your sacrifices, memories and contributions are a legacy and a celebration of your life in sports.