Waiting game for Fiji

Fiji may have to wait until late November to see if they will be allowed to send their athletes to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The FASANOC President Vidhya Lakhan and Atma Maharaj were in London last week to meet the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The main objective was to find a way forward for Fiji athletes to take part in next year's Games and also seek the support of the Secretariat to remove sports sanctions, as an item from the list of sanctions for the future.

Lakhan said the response from the Secretariat was very clear in that they do not have the powers to change the decision of CEMAG to ban Fiji athletes from the 2010 Delhi Games.

He said nor was the Secretariat able to offer any advice or suggestions to how Fiji could achieve their objectives.

The Fiji Delegation was however advised, the only group who could change the CEMAG decision is the Head of Governments and this they could do at their next meeting in late November in Trinidad.

Lakhan said that FASANOC would now have to move swiftly as entries and selection of team sports for the Delhi Games will be closing in a matter of weeks.

It is very likely FASANOC will now be approaching Commonwealth Government Heads to seek their support in enabling Fiji athletes to compete in the Delhi Games before exploring other opportunities.