Fiji's Commonwealth Games appeal dismissed

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has reinforced Fiji's ban from the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October after dismissing its appeal.

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee had appealed against the ban in December 2009. The CAS ruling against the was announced on Thursday turning down the appeal.

The Commonwealth Games Federation banned Fiji as its membership in the Commonwealth was suspended due to lack of progress towards reinstating democracy.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth last September when military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a 2006 coup, refused to bow to demands to hold elections next year.

CW Games: Decision on Fiji soon

Fiji's national Olympic committee has encouraged its athletes to keep training for the Commonwealth Games in October as it awaits a decision from the Court of Abritration for Sport on its ban from the games.

Fiji Amateur Sports and Olympic Committee President Vidya Lakhan told the Fiji Times today he expected the court's decision on Fiji's appeal against its exclusion from the New Delhi games within the next week.

"They were supposed to have made their ruling on March 23 and I believe the decision will be passed on to us sometime this week or early next week," Lakhan told the newspaper.

"Right now we urge all our sporting bodies to continue with their training and just hope for the best

"They need to keep up with their training because it will be helpful if the green light is given for the trip to India.

Fiji still hopeful of participating in Commonwealth Games

Fiji'S fate of participating at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi will be known by the end of March.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) last year ruled against Fiji's participation at the Delhi Games in October.

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) president Vidhya Lakhan said they had lodged an appeal earlier this year with the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

"We have opted to have three member panel rather than one person tribunal and in that we have nominated a QC from New Zealand as our representative," he said.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will be asked to nominate a representative and CAS itself will appoint a third member, who I suspect will be the chairperson."

Lakhan said the CGF had been given a month to respond to FASANOC's claims and hoped a decision would be made by March.

"Our appeal is based on the fact that in our view, the CGF has erred in the interpretation and application of its own constitution.

"The CGF constitution very clearly says the athletes of countries who are members of Common-wealth can take part in the Commonwealth Games.

"We have read in communiquÚs and press release from Commonwealth Secretariat and they have said whilst Fiji remains in the Commonwealth they cannot take part in the Commonwealth Games."

Lakhan said the Commonwealth Secret-ariat has confirmed that Fiji is still in the Commonwealth.

"Our argument is that if Fiji is still in the Commonwealth then in accordance with the CGF constitution our athletes should be allowed to take part in the Commonwealth Games."

Lakhan said the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly has not taken any decision on either to expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF.

"The only thing they are doing is taking the decision of the Commonwealth Secretariat and telling us we cannot take part.

"As far we know the CGF General Assembly has not voted on that (expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF).

"The ruling of CAS is final. If CAS says you can't take part in the Delhi Games then that's it.

"But if they agree with interpretation of the constitution then we are hoping the ruling will be that we can take part and we will."

India to play Rugby 7s in Fiji

India's national rugby team will feature at this year's Marist 7s tournament as its build up to the Honk Kong 7s tournament and the Commonwealth Games.

India's rugby coach and former Nasinu rep Usaia Biumaiwai says discussions were underway to bring his international team play against the best local club teams.

India is the 2010 Commonwealth Games hosts in October where Rugby 7s will be played.

Biumaiwai said playing in Fiji would be a good build up to expose his players to the game.

He said the Fiji Rugby Union was aware of India's intentions and soon a decision would be made.

"Rugby is still developing in India and I'm arranging with FRU to bring a team over in March. I want to expose my players and get them to play against the local clubs in Fiji."

"This will be a build up to the Hong Kong and Commonwealth games. We're hosting the games and I want the India team to achieve an improved performance in front of its home crowd."

Biumaiwai left for India two years ago after spending some time in Thailand.

Rugby is minor sport in India. Cricket in India is like rugby in Fiji. Rugby is still developing and a lot of people in India are unaware that rugby is played in their country.

"I'm trying my best in developing the sport and I do believe this would be a good opportunity to impress the home crowd and draw their attention to rugby," he said.

"Playing against the Fiji club sides would be a boost and we hope everything comes out in our favour."

Fiji to appeal Commonwealth Games ban

Fiji officials on Tuesday said that they would appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sports for their exclusion from 2010 Common wealth Games in India. Fiji was barred from the games in September after the country’s military regime ignored international demands to restore democracy following the 2006 coup.

The Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) expressed its disappointment on decision taken at Commonwealth Heads of Government summit to uphold Fiji's suspension from the games.

FASANOC president Vidhya Lakhan said,"We totally disagree with this decision. In our view it is tantamount to political interference in sports. As such we will now be taking the matter up to the Court of Arbitration for Sports for a resolution."

Fiji‘s exclusion from games was confirmed in October by the Commonwealth Games Federation following its suspension from the Commonwealth.

The heads of government meeting in Trinidad confirmed Fiji’s expulsion from the games in Delhi, with only Malaysia offering support. Fiji will appeal against the ban in Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, an independent body which settles sports-related disputes.

Commonwealth reaffirms decision to suspend Fiji

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago has stuck to its decision to ban Fijian athletes from competing in next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The leaders of the 53 nations that make up the Commonwealth - including Australia, Britain, New Zealand and South Africa expressed deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in Fiji Islands with regard to its adherence to fundamental Commonwealth values, including the abrogation of the Constitution in April 2009, ongoing restrictions on human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, and the interim government's decision to further delay elections until 2014.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth on September 1 after self-appointed Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama refused to hold elections by 2010.

The CHOGM leaders "observed that Commonwealth sporting events represent a significant public demonstration of the unity of the Commonwealth as a family of members with a shared commitment to fundamental values. They affirmed that sporting ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the (Commonwealth Games) Association".

2010 Commonwealth Games: Let Fiji play

Fiji's bid to be part of the Commonwealth Games has gained momentum with the Pacific Games Council and the Olympic Sports Federations of Oceania throwing their weight behind the cause. Fiji's fate on whether it will take part in the Commonwealth Games 2010 will be known at the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting next week.

A statement by the two bodies said they were united in their opposition to the recent decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, subsequently endorsed by the Commonwealth Games Federation, to exclude Fiji athletes from competing at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

"The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's decision to fully suspend Fiji from certain Commonwealth activities, such as sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, whilst trade, commerce and other activities are able to continue unfettered only serves to highlight the inconsistencies of the Commonwealth's approach," the statement said.

"These type of inconsistencies create great and understandable disillusionment and resentment within the sporting fraternity, its participants, supporters and communities all over the world and in this case specifically, within the Oceania region.

"The athletes of Fiji are fit, healthy, talented and dedicated young people whose sporting prowess on the Commonwealth Games fields of play in Delhi can only serve to strengthen the bonds of friendship and solidarity between Fiji and other Commonwealth countries and thereby set an example for other Fijians to follow right through to their Government.

"The athletes of Fiji are therefore the very last group of people within Fiji who should be used as a bargaining chip to punish the behavior of its Government.

"Our organizations are united in this position and through our respective memberships, we will make this position known to our region's Heads of Government as they prepare to meet in Trinidad later this month at the Commonwealth He-ads of Government Meeting.

In the name of sport, and all its positive manifestations and community benefits, we say with one voice 'Let Fiji Play'.

Commonwealth Games suspends Fiji

The Commonwealth Games Federation has suspended Fiji's membership of the Federation and has ruled it out of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. The move follows Fiji's formal suspension from the Commonwealth last month. This came after it failed to meet conditions including holding early democratic elections.

Federation president Michael Fennell says there is great sympathy for the plight of Fijian athletes aspiring to compete in New Delhi. He also gave a ray of hope to Fiji when he said that the federation will make a representation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that sport not be included in sanctions imposed on Fiji.

That exemption could provide Fiji's athletes an opportunity to participate in the 2010 games, which are scheduled for next October.

The Commonwealth Games feature 71 nations and territories that were linked to the former British Empire.

CMAG asks CGF to exclude Fiji

The powerful Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has asked the Commonwealth Games Federation to exclude Fiji from next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi after the caretaker government failed to present a time schedule for the restoration of democracy in the country.

"In relation to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, consistent with the precedent of the earlier decision of CMAG, the Group requested the Commonwealth Games Federation to take into serious consideration CMAG's decision in relation to the suspension of the Fiji Islands, in determining Fiji's participation in the Games." the CMAG said in a statement after its meeting in New York yesterday.

Fiji has been fully suspended from the Commonwealth on September 1 this year following its failure to meet the ultimatum to come out with a time schedule to hold credible elections in the country no later than October 2010.

Click here to read our previous articles on this topic.

Fiji suspended from Commonwealth

The Commonwealth has fully suspended Fiji from the association after it refused to bow to requests for elections by next year. The Commonwealth said it had demanded that Fiji commit, to rejoining negotiations with the opposition and to holding credible elections by October 2010. The deadline for declaring elections ended today, on 1-Sep-2009. Earlier, we had reported on 27-Aug regarding possible suspension.

Read latest news: Fiji suspended from Commonwealth Games as well..

This is only the second 'full suspension' in the organisation's history. The only other country to be fully suspended in the Commonwealth's history is Nigeria, during the rule of Gen Sani Abacha in 1995. The Commonwealth is a grouping of 53 former British colonies, dependencies and other territories.

Fiji's acting Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama who seized power in Fiji in a 2006 coup has said elections can only be reinstated in 2014. He says he needs time to institute reforms that will end the ethnic-based voting system tipped in favour of ethnic Fijians. But his critics charge that under his rule, Fiji has suspended the constitution, detained opponents and suppressed freedom of speech.

Fiji has already been banned from Commonwealth ministerial meetings. With its full suspension, all Commonwealth aid will be cut off and Fiji will not be allowed to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi, India. However, not all Commonwealth contact with Fiji will cease. Its special representative to the country, Sir Paul Reeves, is set to visit Fiji from 9-11 September. Fiji has already been suspended from the regional Pacific Islands Forum, and some European Union aid to the country has been put on hold.

Fiji has had a chequered relationship with the Commonwealth. It was expelled in 1987 after two military coups, but was readmitted 10 years later when democracy was restored. It was also suspended in 2000 for 18 months.

Pakistan was twice suspended from council meetings, and Zimbabwe was on course to be suspended when President Robert Mugabe pre-empted the move by walking out himself.

Click here to read all articles on this topic.

Fiji faces expulsion from Commonwealth

Fiji's future in global politics appears more and more uncertain as its military regime has declined to hold elections any time soon. This may result in Fiji being expelled from group of .

The Commonwealth has set a deadline of 1-Sep for Frank Bainimarama, Fiji's self-appointed prime minister, to announce a return to democracy this decade or be cut off from all aid and banned from the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Fiji is already facing expulsion from the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum over its failure to announce a reasonable election date. If it is suspended from the Commonwealth, Fiji's military leaders will be barred from all inter-governmental Commonwealth meetings. It will also lose access to Commonwealth advice and technical assistance and member states will be encouraged to limit government-to-government contact with the country.

Bainimarama initially invited the Commonwealth to send a special envoy for talks this week aimed at keeping the South Pacific country in the organisation of Britain and its former colonies. He said he wanted a Commonwealth team to visit Fiji to get a "better picture" of the situation, but the two sides could not agree on a date.

Bainimarama, who ousted the elected government in a 2006 coup, has repeatedly said he will not call elections before 2014 so he can first fundamentally reform the country's electoral system and root out what he called endemic corruption.

Fiji has suffered four coups since 1987, prompting international sanctions each time and suspension from the Commonwealth twice.

The last country to be suspended from the group was Pakistan. The country was expelled for six months from 22 November 2007 when General Pervez Musharraf called a state of emergency. Suspended members are not represented at meetings of Commonwealth leaders and ministers, although they remain members of the organization.
Click here to read all articles on this topic.