Tuitubou congratulates Dr Mitchel on his re-election
Suva, April 05 – The Minister for Youth and Sports Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou has congratulated Dr Robin Mitchell, who was unanimously re-elected ONOC President in Nadi last week.
Dr Mitchell has been ONOC’s president since 2009 and will now serve another and final term.
“I am delighted that ONOC has re-elected Dr Mitchell as President. This is not only a testament to his ability but also to the recognition and respect that ONOC has for its President,” said Hon. Tuitubou. “His involvement in sports at regional and international level is unmatched and Fiji is fortunate to have someone with such vast experience.”
“Fiji and the region will definitely benefit from his leadership and strong networking skills and we look forward to more sustainable development of sports in the region,” said Hon. Tuitubou.
After his re-election last week, Dr Mitchell said that he “hopes to boost sporting standards in Oceania before Tokyo 2020.”
“We have got to improve the standards,” he told media on Friday at the Sofitel Hotel in Nadi.
“We are looking at working more closely with Oceania Federations, provide funding and provide scholarships to boost performance in the region,” said Dr Mitchell.
He added that Fiji had made a great impact at the Rio 2016 Games and the gold medal win was viewed as a united achievement by the Oceania nations.
Dr Mitchell, a Fijian, believes the gold medal has also provided further inspiration among Oceania nations as they build their teams towards Tokyo 2020.
In another election result, Para table tennis Gold medallist at the Oceania Table Tennis Championships, Mere Rodan and was also elected as athletes' representative for the Oceania Paralympic Committee.
“This is good news for Fiji,” said Hon. Tuitubou. “It signifies Fiji’s role and influence in the region as a sporting nation.”
“Fiji has a lot to contribute towards sports development in the region and we need to partner with Oceania nations and our sports to harness sports development in the Pacific,” said the Sports Minister. “With the International Day of Sport for Peace and Development on 6 April 2017, it is important that we all use the unifying power of sport to bring us together as a sports-loving nation.