Final touch-ups for the Coca-Cola Games at the HFC Bank Stadium

Confusion this afternoon with Fiji Sports Council’s decision to charge $500 for games village spaces during the Coca-Cola Games, which caught many by surprise.

The FSC today has announced that they will be charging $500 per school and allocate spaces sizing 4.8m x 7.2m and only 19 spaces are available.

It goes on to say that this will be on Buckhurst Park, while Bidesi Park will be used for warm-ups.

However, after numerous outbursts and queries, the FSC says the Games Village spaces advertised is for schools that do not have a tent.

It says this is for those schools, who would prefer to have their students housed in scaffolding constructed to ensure their items and belongings are better kept and will remain dry should there be heavy rain.

It adds that tent spaces for schools with a higher number of athletes are also still available and fees for the tents will depend on the size of the tents.

Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association Acting Secretary Biu Colati says there will be space available for those schools that cannot afford the prices set forth by FSC.

“We have three marquees provided by the sponsors, huge ones that is available to whichever school that wants to come. One is on standby just for the maritime schools. So if they want to use those, it’s also available.”

Prominent schools in the past have provided for their own tents and have had sizes dependent on the number of athletes they field in the games.

Some have even shared their spaces with minor schools in the past as the smaller schools have had to do major fundraising and look for sponsors to be in Suva.

Meanwhile Damodar Group of Companies today announced a $15,000 sponsorship for the Fiji Finals.

Chief Executive Div Damodar says the sponsorship is a gesture of commitment to youth development and sports excellence.

Damodar adds the Fiji Finals is a pinnacle event in the country’s sporting calendar, bringing together our most promising athletes and today’s sponsorship underscores the Group’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of athletic stars and reinforces ties with the community.

The Coca-Cola Games will begin on Thursday and conclude on Saturday.

You can watch the LIVE coverage on FBC Sports from 8.30 am to 6 pm.