Close to 100 participants from 33 National Sports Federations, along with key stakeholders, gathered in Suva for a comprehensive Team Fiji Performance and Pathways Workshop. This event represents a significant leap in Fiji’s preparations for the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti, scheduled for less than 17 months from now.
The workshop aimed to mobilize a national performance initiative, positioning Tahiti 2027 as an opportunity to enhance performance systems, clarify athlete pathways, and establish accountability while generating momentum for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and beyond. Following a sixth-place finish at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, the focus is on ensuring that the preparation for Tahiti 2027 is strategic, cooperative, and proactive.
Assistant Minister for Sport Aliki Bia and Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) president Cathy Wong motivated Team Fiji to aim for a top-three finish in the upcoming Games. They emphasized the need for effective leadership, meticulous planning, and unwavering commitment across all sports.
Ajay Ballu, the Chef de Mission for Tahiti 2027, accepted the challenge on behalf of Team Fiji, underlining the importance of translating expectations into tangible actions and steady progress. The workshop, facilitated by sports leader Atma Maharaj, presented an insightful overview of Fiji’s performance trends and categorized the 24 sports into four performance groups based on medal opportunities and overall impact.
Former national hockey representative Samu Savou spoke about trust as the foundation of high-performing teams, advocating for a unified vision and disciplined practices that enable teams to thrive under pressure. The workshop included a central session titled “Winning on Purpose,” where Fiji Rugby’s high-performance leader Naca Cawanibuka shared insights from previous Olympic experiences, emphasizing preparation that matches competitive demands.
Funding avenues and support pathways were also addressed, with Lyndall Fisher discussing Olympic Solidarity funding and Peter Mazey of the Fiji National Sports Commission highlighting government support and upcoming initiatives, including a National Sports Conference to discuss potential high-performance sports science structures.
Looking ahead, Maharaj encouraged early planning for Brisbane 2032, positing that the outcomes from Tahiti 2027 should inform future pathways and priorities. A crucial outcome of the workshop was the introduction of a National Federation Performance Planning Contract, due by February 28, 2026, which acts as an accountability tool rather than a funding application.
To ensure ongoing commitment, the workshop established an Accountability Buddy system, pairing sports into clusters for monthly reviews over the following three months to track progress. The overall message was clear: Tahiti 2027 is more than a sporting event; it is a true test of Fiji’s commitment to effective planning and execution. The ambition has been articulated, the systems are aligning, and now it is the responsibility of each sport to fulfill its role.
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