Indian Newslink 15th Sept 2016 Digital Edition

SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
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Gold at Rio Olympics puts Fiji on world map
Mahendra Sukhdeo
Fiji’s scintillating gold
medal win, the first ever
exploit at the Rio Summer
Olympics 2016, was a
crowning glory for the Sevens
team.
While Fiji is shedding away
some of the remnants of the
past left behind by its colonial
master, the 43-7 defeat of
England was like the captivating
‘Kohinoor’ falling from the
Taj into the cap of the smallest
island nation represented at the
Olympics.
Ginger bloke’s magic
Ironically, it was the suave and
unpretentious English coach;
Ben Ryan who provided the fillip
for the rugby-crazed country
to achieve its mega dream.
Ryan described himself as
‘ginger bloke with glasses.’ He
was exasperated when he was
not paid for the first five months
and he was aghast to find that
there were not enough funds to
provide drinking water at the
practices or pay for transport.
But the ginger bloke has
framed Fiji in the World Rugby
map and in so doing, has immortalised
himself in the annals
of Fiji’s sporting history as the
Fijians start coining songs with
his persona and new born babes
are named after him.
Hero worship has reached a
new height of effervescence not
seen before.
Captain Osea Kolinisau is Fiji’s glory (Pictures Courtesy: Reuters)
Serevi’s legacy
Fiji has had a hallowed pathway
in the aisles of World’s Sevens
Rugby and had won several milestones
skilfully mapped by its
nippy ex-Captain, Waisale Serevi.
For several years, Serevi personified
Sevens Rugby globally.
Fiji had the niche to become a
back-to-back World 7 Champion.
A number of local Sevens players
were integrated into national
teams in New Zealand, Australia
and Japan.
I would not be wide off the
mark to state that the winning
spree of New Zealand Sevens in
previous years was to a large
measure due to the Fijian
players.
Unpretentious players
Suva City Council had hosted
the Fiji Sevens Team on several
occasions over the years.
In spite of the temptation of
free drinks and opportunity to
socialise, the players had displayed
immeasurable sense of
maturity and disdain.
Their simplicity and humbleness
could not be ignored.
The players who made it to
the team came from common
background and had presum-
Zealand are into 6 digit scales.
The Fiji Team’s budget is less
than US$ 600,000, not even quarter
of the budget of some national
teams.
It can be concluded that Fiji,
led by its gentle giants, laid the
foundation for Rugby Sevens as
a safe and spirited game, almost
entirely free of long-lasting injuries
and concussions that afflict
the players of more physically
combative games where winning
is the mantra rather than safeguarding
the players from lifelong
disadvantage.
Many other games such as
in 44 casualties and half a billion
dollars in damages. The anguish
and gloom had not yet
dissipated.
The gold medal win at the Rio
Summer Olympics brought joy
and boosted the morale of the
people.
A global destination
The feel good mood of the nation
was captured by the Prime
Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama
who said, “It is time to celebrate
not only their remarkable
achievement but also our collective
unity...”
More importantly, Fiji was
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Bow of Defeat
ably started playing on the outskirts
of the villages and towns
using plastic bottles or cheap rubbery
balls from the Two-Dollar
shops.
Their navigation from patchy
backyards to the world arena is
an incredible feat of endurance
and dedication.
They could have succumbed to
lucrative offers from abroad like
many of their other players had
done.
While some came from the
army, police, prison and the
security sectors; others are
cane cutters or simple villagers,
literally unemployed.
Fiji’s gentle giants
Nor are they receiving hefty
pay packets as their counterparts
in the western world. Reportedly,
they are paid the equivalent of
around US$ 6000 whereas some
stalwarts in Australia and New
Rugby 15, American Baseball
and Australian Footy would
therefore not reach the portals
of Olympics’ status till such
time they modify the game
rules within the ambit of the
Olympics regulations.
Commemorative events
It is therefore befitting that
the victorious team was accorded
a full-fledged ceremonial
welcome firstly at Nadi’s
Prince Charles Park followed
by the Monday holiday bash at
the ANZ Gymnasium in Suva.
Further, the Reserve Bank of
Fiji would issue a coloured
commemorative gold coin in
early 2017, a first for Fiji that
is likely to become a collector’s
piece.
Fiji had suffered heavily in
February from the devastation
caused by Category 5 Cyclone
Winston that had resulted
the centre of media attention far
in excess of other events in recent
history. Fiji became the focus
of world-wide audience. It
was trending on the prime spot
in Twitter for several hours after
the victory and “Fiji” on Google
was the most searched topic during
that time.
The impact created by engaging
such a widespread audience
would allow Fiji Tourism and
Fiji Airways to embark on marketing
strategies to strengthen
the reach of Fiji.
Fiji is indeed now a global
destination.
Mahendra Sukhdeo is a Fiji
born writer, researcher and
author. His book “Aryan Avatars”
is now available through
the USP Bookstore in Suva.