Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics better, tougher

Fiji Sun - 28 April 2010

A total of 2350 athletes will take part in the Coca-Cola Games on Friday and Saturday. Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association secretary Vuli Waqa says the number of athletes have decreased although there is an increase in the number of schools participating. “144 schools will take part but the number of athletes has decreased because many schools are now bringing in students who are medal prospects.” Waqa said in the past, schools bring in athletes that qualify and FSSAA have asked schools this year to work on the qualifying times. “We have given some schools time to work on to see that they bring in athletes who are capable of winning a medal. “Many times in the past, schools lose when they bring many students and return without a medal.” Waqa said this they have done to try and improve the quality of the games this year as they work on improving the standard of competition. “The decrease in number of athletes is because schools from Taveuni and Vanuabalavu that usually bring in quite a number of athletes have called off their participation. “It’s probably because of the hard times we are facing now and the effects of Cyclone Tomas to these schools.” However, all this has not deterred the organisers of this year’s Coca-Cola Games to make the 2010 event bigger and better. “The game is going to be much better and tougher especially now that many schools are only bringing in their best athletes.”The games begin on Friday.