Government incentives for Team Fiji athletes for Olympics are not part of Ministry of Youth and Sports budget - Saukuru

The Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru has revealed that the 2024 Paris Olympics incentives that were announced earlier are not part of the budget that was allocated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports today.

Saukuru says the incentives were promised by the government.

He says the government will find the money when the athletes win medals from the Olympics.

He adds he is confident that our athletes will do well in their respective events at the Olympics, especially the Fiji Men’s rugby 7s team.

It was announced this week that the cabinet has approved the government incentives where an athlete who wins gold will be awarded $50,000, $20,000 for silver medallists and $10,000 will be awarded to bronze medallists.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports was allocated a total budget of $23.4 million, which is an increase of $4.1 million from the $19.5 million that was allocated to them in the 2023/2024 budget.