Fiji Sports Council

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Lautoka

The Fiji Sports Council’s announcement to go ahead and draw up a development master plan for their property on Laucala Bay is a welcomed empowered initiative and visionary from its chief executive, Litia Loabuka, and Peter Mazey.

To outsource its financing to run it privately as a business without any government input must be commended as well because it is futuristic and prudent to implement their project so that Fiji can attract international teams and tournaments to our shores.

I can foresee its appreciation and long term impact on our national economy and Fijians. I would like to recommend the Fijian Holdings CEO and its Board of Directors or the Lau Provincial Council to engage and collaborate with the Fiji Sports Council in a joint venture partnership 100 per cent Fijian owned company whereby all its stakeholders will benefit greatly from this big investment and project. Our country badly needs a one stop shop concept international standard upmarket sporting infrastructure to attract tournaments of international status and specifically upfront for contention is the World Rugby 7s series we so badly want to bring home, but we lack such facilities to complement our ANZ Stadium, Aquatic Centre with the Vodafone Arena.

It’s a business and will certainly work very well for our economy and we don’t have to look far but learn from the Rio Olympics experience in hosting the world’s biggest sporting event through its upmarket Village accommodations, gym, restaurants, public convenience facilities, different sports stadiums, car parks, sports health facilities, shopping mall, security with international standard hotels such as the Grand Pacific Hotel, Holiday Inn, Peninsula Hotel, The Pearl Pacific Harbour with Taunovo Bay Resort for quality accommodation and the list goes on. Already in place is the national swimming facility at the Aquatic Centre, Olympic pool, the FMF gymnasium, the Vodafone Arena indoor sporting facility and the ANZ Stadium. There is McDonald’s and the Damodar City right next door to add value and complement our Sports Council’s vision and concept. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s Rio visit will bring back with him many ideas for the Fiji Sports Council overall proposed conceptual master plan, and it could not have come at a better time.