While it’s bitterly disappointing that South Africa isn’t celebrating a gold medal in the Rugby Sevens at the Rio Olympics, you can’t help but enjoy the celebrations that Fiji’s victory in the competition has sparked on the tiny Pacific island. It reminds you of South Africa in 1995 after the Springbok victory in the World Cup and once again shows how sport can change the psyche of a nation. It’s especially poignant for Fiji which is still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Winston in February – the strongest tropical cyclone to hit Fiji, which left 44 dead and caused damage amounting to $1.4 billion. Fiji certainly needed a reason to celebrate their first-ever Olympic gold medal. – David O’Sullivan
From Sport24
Suva – Fijians erupted in celebration on Friday, setting off flares and dancing in the streets after their Sevens rugby team won the South Pacific nation’s first ever Olympic medal – and gold at that.
The tiny island nation came to a standstill at the start of the final against Great Britain, and by half-time the fireworks had started and there was a monumental chorus of car horns as it became evident Fiji would win and create history.
“This is the biggest day in Fiji’s history. Everyone is celebrating,” said photographer Feroz Khalil who watched the final on the big screen at the main stadium in Suva.
“It was crazy. There were people chanting, crying, tears were flowing. I’m feeling so happy.”
In a message to the nation from Rio de Janiero, where he watched the Olympic final, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said “every Fijian is rejoicing” around the world.
“Never before has the Fijian spirit soared so high as it does today. Never have we stood so tall as a nation.”
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor told AFP nearly all of Fiji’s 900 000 residents would have gathered around television sets in the 110 populated islands to watch the historic event.
“Everyone is very excited. Wherever there was a TV in a village there were people gathered round. There were about 2,000 people packed in the main stadium watching the game on the big screen.
“Some people may go to work now but I don’t think they will be very productive.”
Fiji scored first after just 55 seconds, led 29-0 at half-time and finished up thrashing Great Britain by an emphatic 43-7.
“By the time it was half-time people were already celebrating. It was amazing,” Khalil said.
Traffic was gridlocked in the capital Suva where the streets were filled with people singing and dancing.
The party atmosphere started before dawn when Fiji beat Japan 20-5 in the semi-finals to be assured of a medal.
In the rugby-obsessed island nation, the gold medal victory was also seen as a chance to put behind them the memories of four coups over the past 30 years of political upheaval.
“The win was truly a historic moment for Fiji,” said Shailendra Singh, a former sports journalist and now head of journalism at the university of the South Pacific in Fiji.
“The Sevens game is more than a game in Fiji and it is a major unifying force.
“The entire nation, young, old, men, women, children and adults and people from across the political divide will come together in celebration.”
University vice chancellor Rajesh Chandra said the victory also showed that a small Pacific island nation “can overcome our limitations of size, low income, and many other vulnerabilities and handicaps and take on the big boys internationally”.
It is only the second Olympic medal won by a South Pacific island nation, following the silver claimed by Tongan boxer Paea Wolfgramm who lost the super heavyweight final to Wladimir Klitschko at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, amid the partying on the streets of Suva, diehard rugby fan Dan Nabuli grinned broadly as he proclaimed the victory would be cherished for a long time.
“This victory will be best remembered by everyone, our children in particular, as a small Pacific Island nation has won the gold.” – Sport24
