Champs engage with athletes

Olympic gold medallist.

“He is moving across the ground really well so at this stage, he is on track for an early start to the season.”

The Drua will kick off their Super Rugby campaign Against Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, on February 25.

The Drua will play six home games with the two finalists from last year — the Crusaders and the Blues — to show up at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The Drua will host the Crusaders in Lautoka on March 11, the Blues on April 29 and Moana Pasifika on May 27.

At the HFC Bank Stadium, the side will be up against the Reds on March 19, the Hurricanes on May 6 and the Rebels on April 1.

WITH the focus on noncommunicable diseases, the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee’s (FASANOC) Athletes Communities Engagement Program (ACE) targeted more than 100 athletes participating at the Women’s Inter District Championship and national federations competitions over the weekend.

Program volunteer and ACE champion Quintyn Stephen (Shooting) said ACE champions advocated ACE messages to more than 100 athletes aged between 12 to 28 years old from athletics, women’s football, table tennis and weightlifting.

“Our main focus was staying healthy which revolved around non-communicable diseases and our Be a Leader message which informs athletes on good leadership principles,” he said.

Praneel Singh (billiards), Matelita Vuakoso and Kinisimere Ravai (football) were part of the weekend advocacy program.

“This weekend was also an opportunity to inform and remind athletes from all these sports about the role of ACE and how they as athletes could contribute back to the community by being a part of the program,” Stephen said.

“The ACE program champions are national athletes in their own right who give up their time to be trained to advocate and educate others on issues that affect all of us,” he said.

“This was also an opportunity for young aspiring athletes to hear from role models who have represented the country.”

Nadi footballer Farisha Ali said the program was inspiring and an eye opener for her.

“The program was also educational and informative and pushes me to question what goes on around me especially the being a leader aspect of the outreach,” she said.

“I feel we need this a lot to uplift our athletes and encourage them to be more open and take on leadership roles not only in their sport but also in our communities.”

Weightlifter Enrique Delailomaloma said the message revolving around being a leader was interesting for him.

“In sports we often tend to be quiet and shy, but this message makes me want to contribute more positively to my sport and also to my community,” he said.

FASANOC’s ACE outreach program includes initiatives like Be a Leader, Play True, Play Safe, Go Green!, Non-Communicable Diseases and HIV/AIDS and promotes athletes as role models to influence behaviour change among their peers.

The ACE program is supported by IOC Olympic Solidarity and the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC). ■

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