Fiji will for the first time host the 2010 Oceania and South Pacific Weightlifting Championships.

The competition which was supposed to have been held in Nauru was relocated to Suva after limited seats on the airline that frequents the Pacific Island nation could not accommodate the athletes and officials from the 18 countries that will be competing at the meet.

Oceania Weightlifting Federation General Secretary Paul Coffa said it’s a good opportunity for Fiji to host this championship especially when Manueli Tulo and Maria Liku were named FASANOC’s male and female athlete of the year.

The championship will be the first international weightlifting tournament held in Fiji since the Oceania Weightlifting Institute was shifted from Sigatoka 5 years ago.

The 2010 Oceania and South Pacific Weightlifting championships will be held from May 4 7, at the Yat Sen Center.

The event also will include the first Olympic Youth Continental qualification event for the upcoming Olympic Youth Games to be held in Singapore in August.