Venue: PRINCE CHARLES PARK, Nadi
WBF Official;
President – Napier Boxing Club;
West Director – Boxing Commission of Fiji;
Invited Guest;
Ladies and Gentlemen
Bula Vinaka and a very good evening to all of you.
It is indeed a pleasure to be here at Prince Charles Park to officially open the World Boxing Foundation Title Fight.
I commend and acknowledge the efforts of the organisers who with the Boxing Commission of Fiji, boxers, coaches and promoters, are working hard to revive the sport in our country.
I don’t need to convince this particular audience of the many merits of the sport of boxing. Not only is it perhaps the best sport to develop overall fitness, but it is also one that instils such valuable qualities of character in those who undertake it – such as tactical awareness, endurance, discipline and self-control.
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Fijian Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is developing sporting facilities both in rural and urban areas so that students, youths and individuals interested in sports and games activities are provided another pathway for their future.
Furthermore, the Ministry is also committed to assist in the development of all sports through the various national sports organizations, with the aim to make each sport more inclusive regardless of gender, ethnicity and physical ability.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Sports have become our national pride and passion; we don’t need to look far to see what it can do for our country. It was through our victorious 7’s rugby team that played at the Olympic Games in Rio, that Fiji was able to claim its rightful place on the World Map.
Nevertheless, Fiji will continue to position itself to host international sporting events such as the Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games, International Rugby Sevens, Super 15 rugby matches, golf tournaments and other sports.
To support development of sports tourism, investments in new sporting facilities built to international standards and development towards increased accommodation capacity will be prioritized. Your Government plans to increase the range of
tourism products (sports tourism, cruise tourism, wedding tourism, retirement villages, medical tourism and conference tourism) through sector specific policies.
Ladies and Gentlemen
I have been informed that boxing in Fiji has received overwhelming support from the Western Division and I hope to see this sport expanding into other Divisions.
We have also had some prominent fighters from the Western Division who have made a name for themselves in the sport and I acknowledge you for your contributions.
I have much pleasure in welcoming our lone boxer from New Zealand who will be competing in the middleweight category and to all our local rated and experienced boxers who will be competing in the undercut category.
I also acknowledge the work being done by the Boxing Commission of Fiji in leading the revival of professional boxing in the country. I ask you to support the Commission as they work with the stakeholders to ensure that quality and safe boxing bouts takes place around the country.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Tonight is not a night for long speeches, as I’m sure most of you would like to get this show on the road. I leave you with the words of one of the greatest boxers, the world has ever known – Mohammed Ali and I quote, I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion, unquote.
Ladies and Gentlemen
With those few words, I wish the boxers all the very best. It gives me great pleasure to now officially open the World Boxing Foundation Title Fight.
Vinaka Vakalevu. Thank You.
View PDF->Minister’s Speech – World Boxing Foundation Title