Good news as the Fiji men’s and women’s volleyball teams will be going to the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea as the Chinese Embassy has come to their rescue and paid their levy for the games.
Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhang Ping presented the $37,000 donation to FASANOC for the volleyball teams today after Volleyball Fiji approached the Prime Minister’s Office for assistance.
The request was then put forward to the Chinese Embassy who came forward to assist Volleyball Fiji.
Ping said they are happy to assist in ensuring that the volleyball players accomplish their dream of playing at the Pacific Games.
FASANOC had announced earlier this week that the volleyball teams had withdrawn from the Pacific Games as they could not pay their levy.
Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum acknowledged the Chinese Embassy’s generous contribution and said it is a major boost for the volleyball players.
The government has given $600,000 so far to FASANOC for the Pacific Games.
Team Fiji is running against time to get an additional $120,000 to make their $2.1 million budget.
FASANOC President Joseph Rodan Senior is now hoping that some possible options can be explored by the government like looking at the amount of departure tax to be paid by all the Team Fiji athletes which amounts to more than $80,000.
There may be some more good news coming as Sayed-Khaiyum today announced that the government will look at further assistance next week.
The Pacific Games will be held from the 4th to the 18th of next month.
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