The high costs of sporting venues are significantly hindering the development of various sports, according to Paul Fraser, president of the Marist Hockey Club. Fraser emphasized the crucial role sponsors play in sustaining sports activities, highlighting the dependency on financial backing to host events like the Eastgate Memorial Hockey Tournament. Without the support of their sponsor, Temo Consultants, the recent tournament would not have been possible, demonstrating the financial pressures facing sports clubs. The club was forced to cancel four other planned tournaments due to these financial limitations.
Fraser’s remarks shed light on a widespread issue affecting sports development in the country, where rising costs threaten the continuity of sports events and overall progress in the sector. The Eastgate Memorial Hockey Tournament, a prominent event in the Fiji Hockey Federation calendar, would have been among the cancelled tournaments had it not been for external sponsorship.
The significance of the tournament is underscored by the fact that it resumed after a four-year hiatus, attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary facility renovations. This year’s tournament witnessed participation from 14 teams across the country, enhancing competitive play and regional talent exposure. Fraser remains optimistic about the future, stressing the importance of finding sustainable solutions to venue costs and sponsorship challenges to foster sports development.