Team Fiji athletes and officials received a rousing welcome by the Fijian community at Jackson International Airport on Wednesday night. And Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee president Joseph Rodan Senior applauded the reception.

“The reception was overwhelming” Rodan said. “It’s midnight in Port Moresby but Fijians came out in numbers to show their support which was good.

“This is good motivation especially for our young athletes here for the first time. Our message remains the same and that is to go for gold and what we have seen here at the airport would boost the athlete’s morale to another level,” he said.

Meanwhile basketball, football and table tennis would start their games today with the Fiji men’s U23 playing their first match against Vanuatu at 4pm (Fiji) and the Fiji men’s basketball team plays Nauru at 7pm( Fiji). The opening ceremony will be held at the Sir John Guise Stadium at 9pm (Fiji) tomorrow.

Source: The Fiji Sun Newspaper on 3rd July 2015