SUVA, (PACNEWS) -The President of the Oceania Swimming Association Denis Miller has clarified that Fiji’s hosting the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships was conditional on Fiji Government support to host the event.
Miller made the clarification after media reports in Fiji that the country has won the bid to host the championship.
“Delegates at the Oceania Swimming Association (OSA) Meeting held in Kazan, Russia, during the FINA World Swimming Championships, voted on the bids presented by Papua New Guinea Swimming and Fiji Swimming to host the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships.
“The vote that was conducted was in favour of Fiji. However, Fiji’s bid and presentation was conditional on Fiji Government support to host the event, in particular funding of required facility upgrades,” Miller told PACNEWS.
Miller said Fiji Swimming is required to confirm with OSA Fiji Government support as described prior to the end of this month together with key milestones throughout the forecast delivery of the facility upgrades.
“If these requirements are not adequately met, OSA reserves the right to award the 2016 Oceania Swimming Championships to the other bidder being Papua New Guinea.
“Also, at this stage, the Pool Swimming events of the 2016 Championships have not been granted Olympic Qualification status. This will require consideration by FINA following an application from the federation which hosts the event,” Miller stressed.
