The 2024 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Fiji would not have taken place without the government’s critical financial assistance of $1.3 million, according to Henry Elder, Fiji’s weightlifting coach. His comments came following Taniela Rainibogi’s gold medal performance in the men’s 109kg, +109kg A event on Saturday.
Elder noted that organizers had reached out to nearly 150 potential sponsors to fund the event, but most declined to support it. Despite these challenges, he reported that the response to the event’s organization has been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve received so many positive comments on the running of the event, and we have the Government to thank for their support in making this happen,” Elder stated.
He emphasized that while seeking sponsorship was difficult, the team remained determined and placed their faith in God. “God took us places where we met people who provided the right support. Financially we struggled, but when it mattered, help came from various organizations at the last minute,” he said.
Elder acknowledged the government’s support and the Fiji Sports Council for providing staff to assist with the operational and logistical aspects of the championships. The five-day event featured participation from 23 countries, with a total of 201 lifters competing for medals at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.