Page 32 - IB May 2018 Edition

Rugby

Fiji pledges US5million government would upgrade infrastructure in the Fiji’s Western
Division.
“There are obviously various structures that have been looked
to host world 7s series at in the Western Division, whether it’s Prince Charles Park in
Nadi, whether it’s Churchill Park (in Lautoka) or whether it’s
some other place and other organisations such as Fijian Holdings
(FHL) has actually looked at investing in sports.”
By Ilaitia Turagabeci He revealed in Parliament that FHL was looking at investing in a
permanent structure. “It’s not just about the honour and the pride
WHEN World Rugby meets next month to decide which ten of hosting it in Fiji. It will have enormous benefits on our people.
countries the HSBC World Series will be played in, it will do so “We look forward to a very positive response and we look
with a pledge of more than $10million (USD4.8m) by the Fiji forward to every Fijian supporting this.”
Government if it is hosted in the island nation. At a gala dinner held at the Sheraton Resort in Nadi In March,
After this was announced in Parliament by acting Prime Min- Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, who is also the president
ister and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in April, of the Fiji Rugby Union, said the government would deliver on
the Fiji Rugby Union predicted that the overall economy benefit its promise to “ pull out all stops to do whatever is required to
of a leg hosted in Fiji would be around $50million (USD24.8) build the infrastructure to host the event.”
per annum. He said it was time for the sevens series to return to its spiri-
“We are looking at an investment in an excess of $10m tual home “to allow our people to see our players on home turf,
(USD4.8m), because the World Rugby requirement is that wher- playing the best in the world”.
ever you have such an international tournament, it must be near The key elements in Fiji’s bid proposal are:
to an international airport for the convenience of the teams,” - An October window as the preferred time of year for a Tourna-
Sayed-Khaiyum said. ment in Fiji, just after Fiji Day, after the peak Australian and
“We need to have fields around where they can do their warm New Zealand school holidays, and at a time of year where
up. These are some of the conditions that are attached to it. Tourism Fiji actively seeks inbound visitation. Hence, the first
“Of course, if successful in the bid, we will need the money to tournament could be as early as October 2019.
ensure that we host a successful leg of the sevens tournament. - FRU is bidding for a combined men’s and women’s tourna-
The figure is not finalised as yet. That was some estimation that ment.
was done.” - FRU is prepared to host either a stand-a-lone event in Fiji or
If World Rugby appoves Fiji’s bid, Sayed-Khaiyum said the to twin with another host union, and has proposed that its

32 Islands Business, May 2018