Commonwealth Games organizers "have welcomed Fiji's return to the multi-sport event this year after the nation's suspension from the organisation of mostly former British colonies was eased on Friday," according to Nick Mulvenney of REUTERS.
Fiji "was fully suspended in 2009 but a decision by the military government to hold national elections in September brought about loosening of the sanction at a meeting of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in London."
That clears the way for Fiji "to send a team to Glasgow" for the July 23-Aug. 3 Games, "having missed the previous version in Delhi in 2010." Commonwealth Games Federation President Prince Tunku Imran said,
"I am delighted to welcome Fiji back into the Commonwealth Games family" (REUTERS, 3/15).
VELODROME: In Canberra, David Polkinghorne reported Commonwealth Games hopeful Nathan Hart said that the revamped Narrabundah velodrome will ''improve training dramatically'' for Canberra's cyclists hoping to get a ticket to Glasgow 2014.
The "Bundahdrome" was closed last April because "it was structurally unsound but it will be reopened on Monday" following a A$1.5M ($1.35M) upgrade (CANBERRA TIMES, 3/16).
