Fiji requires an estimated $300 million to upgrade its sporting facilities, according to Fiji Sports Commission Chairman Peter Mazey.
He says the country's ageing infrastructure remains one of the biggest challenges facing local sports.
Mazey made the comments while responding to concerns raised by Fiji Pearls coach Michelle Parsons about the standard of netball facilities in the country.
Speaking to fijivillage Sports, Parsons says the difference between the courts in Fiji and Australia became evident during the Fiji Pearls' recent participation in the Spirit Games in Sydney.
She says the players were amazed by the quality of the playing surface in Australia, describing it as vastly superior to what they are accustomed to in Fiji.
Parsons says the court at Vodafone Arena is slippery, making it difficult for players to stop and change direction naturally during matches.
She adds that the poor surface forces players to mechanically adjust their movements, increasing the risk of injury and affecting performance.
Parsons also highlighted that children as young as eight and nine years old in Australia are playing on courts that are of a higher standard than those available to Fiji's national players.
She stressed that Fiji needs significant investment in sporting facilities if athletes are to compete consistently at the highest level.
Mazey acknowledged the concerns, noting that the courts at Vodafone Arena are shared by several sports, making upgrades more complex.
He said infrastructure is a major challenge across all sporting codes and the financial commitment required is substantial.
Mazey says the Sports Commission estimates it needs about $300 million to modernise sporting facilities around the country, comparing the scale of the investment to constructing a new Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital.
He added that, for now, the commission is working with the resources it has while continuing to seek funding for major upgrades.
Meanwhile, Parsons says Fiji also has an opportunity to strengthen its position in international netball if the sport is included in the 2032 Olympic Games.
She noted that greater male participation is one of the requirements being discussed internationally and believes Fiji compares well with many other countries in encouraging men to play the sport.
