For the first time in the Coca-Cola Games’ 51-year history, students with disabilities will compete at the national secondary schools athletics championships, the Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association (FSSAA) has confirmed. FSSAA secretary and competition director Biu Colati announced the landmark decision on Wednesday, calling it a major step toward making the Games truly inclusive.
Colati said para-athletes will be part of an introductory programme at the national meet, taking part in three events — two field disciplines and one track event. He described the move as long overdue, noting that while the competition has carried the name “Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Competition” for some time, it has not previously provided an avenue for students who “are not like the others already participating.”
“This year, for the first time, they are coming in and we are so happy to have them,” Colati said, adding that the inclusion sends a clear message about access to sport for all schoolchildren. “I think we can now say that this competition is one where every child in Fiji can call it their game.”
The para-athlete entries form an introductory phase intended to test logistics, classification, and competition flow at the national level. Colati said organisers already have plans to broaden participation next year by integrating para events into zonal competitions, a move expected to increase athlete numbers, improve competitive standards and build a pathway for more schools to prepare athletes for nationals.
FSSAA’s decision aligns with wider efforts in Fiji to expand opportunities for athletes with disabilities. While details such as the specific events, classification categories and the number of participating students were not released, the association’s public acknowledgement and commitment to staging para events at both national and zonal levels mark a departure from previous practice and set a precedent for school sport administrators.
Organisers face a series of practical challenges as they introduce para-athletics, including ensuring appropriate equipment, classification support and accessible facilities. Colati’s framing of the initiative as an introduction suggests FSSAA intends to proceed cautiously, gather feedback from athletes and schools, and adapt the programme before broader roll-out next year.
The inclusion of para-athletes reframes the Coca-Cola Games not only as Fiji’s premier secondary schools athletics competition but also increasingly as a platform for equal opportunity. If the zonal expansion planned for next year proceeds as intended, it could create a formalised pathway for para-athletes to move from local meets to national finals, amplifying participation and visibility for students with disabilities across the school sports system.
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