Cokes On After Two-Year Lapse
The Ministry of Education deputy secretary Timoci Bure yesterday confirmed that after the lapse of two years the Coca-Cola Games will be held on August 4-6, at the ANZ Stadium, Suva.
On the school calendar it is on Week three of Term two.
Coke Games coordinator Filiomoni Waqa during the announcement at the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners headquarters at Laucala Beach said there is a possibility that Maritime Zone students would be accommodated by Suva schools prior to Fiji’s biggest sports event.
Maritime zone is usually staged a week before the Coke Games. Since it will be at the beginning of Term Two island zone students might need to be accommodated at nearby schools so as not to miss classes.
“This has happened in the past, there are schools that accommodate maritime athletes while they are in Suva for the Cokes,” Waqa said.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners general manager Roger Hare said: “COVID had distracted the Coke Games; we are extremely excited that the Games are on again.”
Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association president Marika Uluinaceva said: “Cokes is an event that is looked forward to by parents, students, stakeholders and others; the confirmation of the dates brings a lot of excitement and anticipation.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners marketing manager Lawrance Tikaram said the confirmed Cokes dates fall on the same time Fiji Secondary
Schools will also be facilitating rugby competitions.
“But that aside the good thing that the date has been finalised by the Ministry of Education and we can start working towards it,” Tikaram said.
Qualifying times
Waqa admitted yesterday that there is only one photo finish device (camera), that is why it is impossible to set qualifying standards leading upto the Coke Games.
“We have had talks about this in the past but unfortunately we only have one photo finish camera which can only be used in Suva,” he said.
Waqa said that the number of zones will be confirmed in three weeks, as this will depend on feedback from schools.
Tikaram said now that the Coke
Games date is confirmed they would soon be meeting with zone delegates to work on their budgetary plans.
“We are going to lift the standard of the Games without compromising the quality of athletes’ performance on those days,” he said.
Safety measures
“With Under-15’s yet to be vaccinated we will need to discuss this with the Fiji Sports Council,” Tikaram said.
“These students must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult.
“It is good that all teachers as instructed by the ministry are all vaccinated. We cannot let our guards down.
“FSC as property owners will have their safety rules which we must adhere too.
“This is all going to be looked into. We have to COVID protocol. our priority.” still observe all Safety is always
Refund of ticket monies
Waqa also disclosed that $100,000 worth of ticket monies from the 2020 Coke Games have been refunded.
”Schools like Queen Victoria School and Adi Cakobau School who had bought thousands of tickets have received their refunds,” he said.
“Those that have bought two to ten tickets have yet to get their refunds. They can either come to us for their refund or exchange the unused ticket to a new one for the coming Games.”
District zone days will be finalised later.