The 9-member Fiji team at the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles are ready to make their island nation proud tomorrow (Monday 27 August – LA Time).
Fiji will be participating in athletics at the USC Loker Stadium, Cromwell Field.
The Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Iliesa Delana who is in Los Angeles said, “All Fijians should be proud of our athletes and we should all be cheering them on and praying for them.”
“They are indeed ambassadors of the country and will showcase to the world that we in Fiji are united despite our physical differences,” Hon. Delana said.
“It was a proud moment for me to be watching Team Fiji march into the Los Angeles Coliseum last night for the opening and the reception that they received as soon as Fiji was mentioned was overwhelming,” the Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports said.
America’s First Lady Michelle Obama opened the World Games and said; “My husband and I, we are so proud of you, so incredibly proud of you, and we love you all from the bottom of our hearts.”
Mrs Obama spoke on ‘unity’ and said that “millions around the world will be inspired and be motivated by watching special athletes perform with courage, determination and joy throughout this week.”
Team Fiji was among the 6,500 athletes from 165 countries that flooded the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday evening.
These special athletes will participate in 25 sports over nine days, ranging from weightlifting to triathlon.
Fiji is also joined by Pacific neighbours Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.
-Press Release