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Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal - Sports - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum › Entertainment › Sports › Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal (711 Views)

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Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by dmltoyin(op): 6:44pm On Aug 12, 2016
The tiny pacific nation of Fiji has won its first ever Olympic medal after thumping Great Britain 43-7 in the rugby sevens final to scoop the gold medal.
 
Wild celebrations erupted across the island nation as drivers leapt out of their cars and people took to the streets to wave the national flag, phone carriers offered free calls.  Fiji Airways, the national carrier, announced the only beer it will serve on today will be Fiji Gold, a popular local beverage; and the government declared August 22 a national holiday to mark the win.
 
According to The Fiji Times , staff at the main hospital reported that “patients used their crutches or wheelchairs to get to the television to ensure they do not miss history in the making”.
 
Present Prime Minister and former coup leader, Frank Bainimarama thanked the Olympic officials for including the sport in the competition for the first time.
“We can showcase little country like us who don’t have the financial backing like the other countries have, but we managed to beat them,” he said. It’s a wonderful feeling to be Fijian right now wherever you are in the world, especially those back home.”


Shops and schools in the nation of 900000 closed as citizens stayed glued to their televisions as the historic final unfolded.
 
Other Pacific nations say they too will celebrate the “magnificent and emphatic victory by a Pacific nation on the world stage”.
"Pacific Island nations may have the smallest teams competing in Rio, but Fiji has today proven they are mighty," said Colin Tukuitonga, director-general of the Pacific.

Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by UrennaNkoli(f): 6:46pm On Aug 12, 2016
Hardwork pays.
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by Tolexander: 6:50pm On Aug 12, 2016
Fiji should have declared a vigil instead of the holiday!
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by psucc(m): 7:04pm On Aug 12, 2016
Tolexander:
Fiji should have declared a vigil instead of the holiday!
A public holiday is a great honour.

A sharp contrast with Nigeria where a player has to pay a hotel bill to save colleagues from embarrassment.
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by passyhansome(m): 7:11pm On Aug 12, 2016
Small nation with great leader, unlike ours big nation with visionless leaders
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by Tolexander: 7:20pm On Aug 12, 2016
passyhansome:
Small nation with great leader, unlike ours big nation with visionless leaders
so declaring a holiday for winning a gold has translated to good leadership?
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by passyhansome(m): 7:29pm On Aug 12, 2016
Tolexander:
so declaring a holiday for winning a gold has translated to good leadership?
Depending on your perception
Re: Fiji Declares Public Holiday After Winning First Ever Olympic Medal by AIG07: 8:01pm On Aug 12, 2016
Why won't they declare holiday after d kain bashing their boys recieved @d men's soccer event. Conceding 22goals in 3 matches.-just on a lighter mood.

Well, it's a welcome development. Nigeria too will declare a public holiday when we recieve Gold medal for defeating corruption.
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