Team Fiji for the 2023 Pacific Games were hosted a welcoming dinner by the Fiji Honorary Consular, Atueta Balekana and the Fijian Community in the Solomon Islands ahead of the official opening later this evening.
While speaking on behalf of the Fijian Community, the Commanding Officer for Honiara based RFMF Taskforce Cori Mada, Lieutenant Colonel Asaeli Toanikeve says they are happy to welcome young people representing the noble banner blue at the Pacific Games.
Toanikeve says the athletes should also feel a sense of home in Honiara, particularly in the Guadalcanal Province.
He shared a bit of history of how Fijians have been going to the Solomon Islands for many years and says that as Fijians, they are not visitors to the Solomon Islands.
Toanikeve encouraged the athletes and reminded them that they were in the Solomon Islands to achieve great things for themselves, their families and their country.
Fiji Honorary Consular Atueta Balekana says that the Fijian community has come together to assist Team Fiji in any way they can during the two weeks of the Pacific Games.
He stresses that since the arrival of Team Fiji at the Pacific Games there has been a lot of excitement within Honiara as the Fijian Community is well integrated with the locals.
Team Fiji Chef de Mission, Ajay Ballu acknowledged the great lengths Fijians and their families in Honiara are going through to help the athletes and coaches feel at home.
He says the team is growing in strength and confidence because of the support and they have gone a long way with the assistance given to them.
He adds this is probably the best interaction they have had with the Fijian community at any Pacific Games.
Ballu stresses that the athletes are there to not only represent their sports and their families but to represent every single Fijian in Honiara and across the world.
The Team Fiji Chef de Mission also presented a gift as a token of the team’s appreciation to the Fijian Community for the great help they continue to provide.
Meanwhile, Minister for Youth Sports, Jese Saukuru was also present at the event and gave his well wishes to the athletes.
Athletes also presented the Team Fiji cibi to the Fijian Community in the Solomon Islands and thanked the families who were present.
The official opening ceremony of the Pacific Games 2023 will be held at 7pm tonight.
fijivillage Sports sponsored by Kasabias, FNPF and TFL
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