Page 33 - IB May 2018 Edition

Rugby Weather

From page 13
ibility with people not taking the warning so seriously,” Prasad
said. According to him, widespread flooding that hit most of the
main island of Fiji during Easter was a case in point. Four lives
were lost when TD12F became Tropical Cyclone Josie and dumped
un-precedented rain over Fiji.
“It would have been better for a TC warning to have been issued
early enough in anticipation of TD12F to develop into a tropical
cyclone, rather than give a warning for a tropical depression until
it became a tropical cyclone as it passed over Fiji,” Prasad said.
“With TD12F so close to the Fiji group, a tropical cyclone alert
could have been issued in anticipation of the tropical cyclone
development which would have drawn better public response,”
he added.
He said the Fiji Met was equipped with the most up to date
meteorological instruments and technology to forecast weather
reports. But all these would come to naught when you do not have
the expertise and experienced personnel to use the equipment to
Paula Dranisinukula runs away from the NZ defence only to be stopped short of the generate correct weather reports.
tryline. Picture: Eliki Nukutabu A few years back, Fiji Met used to recruit experienced and even
retired meteorologists mostly from New Zealand and Australia.
The expatriates not only did work in weather forecasting, but
tournament leg be the opening event of the HSBC Series each also trained and upskilled local meteorologists.
year putting Fiji, as the spiritual home of sevens, firmly in the “Fiji also used to have experienced cyclone specialists serving as
spotlight. mentors for upcoming tropical cyclone forecasters,” said Prasad.
- The bid is based on hosting the event in Nadi, accessing the Brain drain within the Fiji Met also took a toll on experienced
Denarau Islands hotels and facilities, capitalising on the short personnel departing, together with locals not being re-hired after
distances between airports, hotels, match and training venues retirement.
to make the Fiji leg a genuinely unique event from a player
experience perspective. r achandftv@gmail.com
- The transformation of Prince Charles Park into a rugby am-
phitheatre, FRU’s field of dreams, where a temporary infra-
structure will deliver a 20,000 capacity venue. TRADE MARK CAUTIONARY NOTICE
FRU chairman Francis Kean said FRU consultants –Brian
Thorburn and Greg Peters – had left no stone unturned in the IN MICRONESIA AND PALAU
preparation of Fiji’s credible and compelling bid, which Olympic-
winning coach Ben Ryan had refused to endorse, citing it as a The Coca-Cola Company, a Delaware corporation, of
waste of money that would be better spent on the development One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia 30313, United
of rugby overall and on the contracts of Fiji sevens players. States of America, does hereby provide notice that it
“This event provides a unique opportunity for Fiji rugby that claims proprietorship of the trade mark
will have long-term legacy benefits, not only for rugby, but for
the country as a whole.”
Kean said the FRU estimated the economic boost for the country
would be immense.
“We intend to involve the rugby family in the delivery of the in relation to:
event through utilising a large number of volunteers to fulfill a
number of key roles required to bring this tournament to life. Non-alcoholic beverages, including waters, flavoured
The proposed developments to Prince Charles Park will result in waters, enhanced waters and infused waters.
20,000 capacity but, to coin a phrase, we believe we will in reality
deliver a “stadium of one million” proud Fijians, with the whole
country behind the event.” The Coca-Cola Company cautions that any use of the
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said since the bid trade mark or any confusingly similar trade mark in
was lodged on 28 February Fiji has already hosted two visits from relation to any of these goods or similar goods, would
World Rugby personnel with respect to the details of the proposal. be seen as infringement of their rights and that they will
“Whilst we believe we have ticked all the boxes, there is much take such action deemed necessary to protect those
work to be completed to deliver the infrastructure,” he said. rights.
“We are not waiting for World Rugby’s decision to start this
work. We have already started.” The Coca-Cola Company can be contacted care of their
The Fiji Airways 7s team stole the lead in the HSBC series address for service:
with 145 points after edging Australia 28-22 in the final of the
Singapore Sevens on 29 April. South Africa, which it beat 12-10 AJ Park, Level 22, State Insurance Tower, 1 Willis
in the semi-final is second on the points table with 141 points Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
after eight rounds.

Islands Business, May 2018 33