PNG and Japan athletes may feature in Fiji Finals for first time
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Athletes from Papua New Guinea and Japan may participate in the 2026 Fiji Finals for the first time.
- Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association secretary Biu Colati confirmed PNG has seven athletes and Japan has one.
- Overseas athletes will not compete in qualifying tournaments, with two remaining chances for local athletes to qualify.
The upcoming 2026 Fiji Finals are set to make history with the potential inclusion of athletes from Papua New Guinea and Japan, marking a significant international expansion for the event. Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Association secretary Biu Colati has confirmed that Papua New Guinea will send seven athletes, while Japan will have one participant. This development highlights the growing regional and international interest in the Coca-Cola Games, a premier event for secondary school athletics in Fiji.
at the moment PNG has confirmed seven athletes and one from Japan.
Colati emphasized that these international athletes will not be part of any qualifying tournaments, as there are still two remaining local qualifying events: the eastern qualifiers and the central qualifiers. The association will liaise with the PNG and Japan managements regarding the registration process for the Coca-Cola Games. Meanwhile, local athletes still have two opportunities to qualify for the Games, with the eastern qualifiers scheduled for tomorrow and the central qualifiers on Saturday.
both countries have not withdrawn their interests.
The Coca-Cola Games are scheduled to take place next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The potential participation of athletes from PNG and Japan is seen as a positive step for the event, fostering greater competition and showcasing talent from beyond Fiji's borders. This international dimension is expected to elevate the profile of the Games and encourage further participation in the future.
they’ll contact the PNG and Japan managements regarding their registrations for the Coca-Cola Games.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Post-Courier in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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