Australia supports Fiji Games participation 26/11/2009 |
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The Australian Commonwealth Games Association says Fiji should be allowed to compete at next year’s event in Delhi.
The Commonwealth Games Federation suspended Fiji’s membership, ruling the country’s athletes out of the 2010 Games, after it was banned from the Commonwealth for failing to meet certain conditions, including holding early democratic elections.
But there have been calls for the ban to be overturned for sporting events and the Australian CGA believes Fijian athletes should be able to compete in Delhi.
Australian CGA chief executive Perry Crosswhite said: “I have great sympathy for the plight of the Fijian athletes at present. They are pawns in a political game, no matter which side is right or wrong.
“We felt much the same with pressure being put on our sporting leaders to keep us from competing in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. Fortunately we did take part but the process took its toll on us and others. Athletes should not bear the brunt of political sanctions.”
The Australian CGA has signed a petition on the LetFijiPlay.com website, an initiative set up by the Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee to give Fijian athletes and their supporters a voice.
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