The Fijian government played a crucial role in facilitating the 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships by providing $1.3 million in financial support. This funding was essential for the event to proceed, as revealed by Henry Elder, Fiji’s weightlifting coach, following Taniela Rainibogi’s gold medal victory in the men’s 109kg, +109kg A category on Saturday.
Elder explained that while the organization approached nearly 150 potential sponsors for assistance, very few showed interest. Despite this challenge, he reported positive feedback regarding the coordination of the event. “We’ve received numerous positive comments about how the event was run, and we owe a lot to the government for their support in making it happen,” Elder stated.
Throughout the sponsorship search, Elder emphasized the importance of perseverance and maintaining faith, attributing their progress to divine assistance. “God led us to meet people who provided the necessary support; although we faced financial struggles, timely help from various organizations made a difference,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the government and the Fiji Sports Council for their contributions, particularly for providing staff to assist with the event’s operational and logistical needs. The five-day championship featured participation from 23 countries, with a total of 201 lifters competing for medals at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.