Government announces celebration details for Olympic 7s Gold win

Thousands of people are expected to come out for the two events that have been planned for Team Fiji after their arrival this Sunday.

Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum confirms that the first event will take place at Prince Charles Park in Nadi after the team arrives at the Nadi International Airport just after midday on Sunday.

Sayed‑Khaiyum is requesting supporters and fans who want to meet the Team Fiji contingent to line up the streets from Nadi Airport to Prince Charles Park.

People are requested not to wait for the team at the airport as they will get off the plane and get on a bus to make their way to Prince Charles Park where the welcome ceremony will take place. The team will not come out of the main door of the airport.

The team bus will go through Votualevu roundabout to Namaka, Namotomoto village and go straight to Prince Charles Park.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama who is already on his way home from Rio will speak at Prince Charles Park.

Team Fiji Chef De Mission Cathy Wong will also speak there.

A traditional welcome ceremony will be carried out by the people of Sabeto and an interfaith thanksgiving service will also take place in Nadi.

There is time allocated for families and fans to meet the players.

The team will then depart Prince Charles Park at about 4 to 4.30pm Sunday.

They will then board the flight from Nadi Airport to come to Nausori.

Only our gold medal winning Fiji 7s team will come along Kings Road from Nausori to Suva on Sunday afternoon.

They will leave Nausori Airport at about 5.45 Sunday afternoon.

The 7s team will stay at GPH for the night.

On the special 7s victory holiday on Monday, the Olympic Gold Medal victory celebrations will be held at the ANZ Stadium.

The stadium gates will open at 8.30am.

The Fiji Corrections Jazz Band, National Youth Band, Chinese Youth Band and Rishikul Dance Group will provide entertainment. 

Our gold medal winning team will leave in a vehicle from GPH in a march in a convoy with a band accompanying them at 9.30am Monday.

This will start from the Suva Flea Market, through to Victoria Parade, turn left at Thurston Street, on to McGregor Road, Bau Street, then to Laucala Bay Road and to the ANZ Stadium.

President Jioji Konrote and the First Lady will then meet the 7s team members.

There will be a thanksgiving prayer followed by the traditional welcome ceremony to be carried out by the people of Nakelo.

The winning 7s team members will be garlanded by the winning Ballentine Memorial School girls rugby team.

President Konrote will then present $30,000 each to the team members and various medals given by the state in recognition of their superb performance.

This will be presented to coach Ben Ryan and the members of the team.

Prime Minister Bainimarama, Ben Ryan and winning captain, Osea Kolinisau will also speak at the event.

People are asked to come out in blue with their Fiji flags to celebrate the Fiji 7s team’s historic Olympic gold medal win in Rio.

Free buses are also being arranged for people in the west and those outside of Suva. More details will be announced later.

Free transportation and VIP seating is also being arranged for close family members of the 7s team. This is only for the players’ wives, children, and parents.

Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum also confirms that some business houses are assisting in the celebrations while some will give some rewards to the players directly after the official celebrations.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirms that the first event in Nadi is the welcome ceremony for Team Fiji while the event in Suva on Monday is the Olympic gold medal victory celebration.