Fiji's gold medal winners should receive fully furnished houses, land and money Featured
Fiji's Osea Kolinisau scores a try in the men’s rugby sevens gold medal match. Photo: AFP
18 August, 2016. Fiji's SODELPA party leader Sitiveni Rabuka has suggested members of the Olympic winning sevens team be given property, money and national recognition on their return to the country.
The team won the country's first Olympic gold in Rio last week and is due back in Fiji this weekend.
A national holiday has been announced for Monday but Sitiveni Rabuka says that is not enough.
Mr Rabuka said the players should receive fully furnished houses and land as well as $US 25,000 each.
He also called for coach Ben Ryan to be awarded citizenship, a diplomatic passport and $US 40,000.
He said what they achieved was not just about sport.
"We acknowledge personal sacrifices in every sphere of human endeavour. In military operations, people get decorated and honoured, in sports they must be also. Sceptics might say it is only sport but realists will take it for what it is and that is a national achievement on an international scale."
Mr Rabuka also said the team should be given Order of Fiji recognition and free tertiary education who choose to use it.
-RNZI
