$2000 levy for athletics squad

ATHLETICS Fiji is looking for financial assistance to help send Team Fiji Athletics to the 2022 Pacific Mini Games in Saipan, Northern Marianas from June 17-25.

Team Fiji Athletics field coach Albert Miller Sr said each athlete had been levied $2000 each to be able to participate in the mini games.

“In all honesty, we are struggling with our levy,” Miller Sr said.

“It is $2000 per athlete. Unless the federation can come up with the money, we will be high and dry. We do not have any sponsorship and the bottom line is if you can’t pay the levy, that’s it, we can’t go.”

Twelve athletes were announced recently to represent Fiji in Saipan – two female and 10 men. The names of the athletes have been forwarded to the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee selection justification committee for scrutiny.

“We’re asking for help, even from corporates, otherwise the athletes will be asked to fork out $2000 for their levy,” Miller Sr said.

Fiji’s preparations had been hit with shortage of athletes, especially in the women’s track events which include the 4x100m relay which Fiji is the defending champion.

Top prospect Younis Bese has been withdrawn because she has switched to rugby union and is now a Fijiana Drua rep preparing for the Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand in October.

“Basically we only have three girls going. We are trying to form the girls 4x100 metre relay and the only other girl in there is Shawntell Harmony Lockington from high jump. With Younis not going, basically we only have three girls.

“It is not a good sign as we try justifying taking a 4x100m relay team and we were not accepted.

“We always win gold medals in past games for both the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay teams. That’s guaranteed medals, but unfortunately now we do not have the body or the people to make up a team.

“We barely got the men’s 4x100m relay team whereas the women, we just have three. So for now, we won’t be able to win any medal there.”

He said Athletics Fiji had been working on developing young athletes to prepare for the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

“For us, looking forward, we have to start now for next year’s the Pacific Games. We have to work hard.”