Source: Andrew Perryman,Bendigo Weekly
FIJI Sportswoman of 2016, Merewalesi Rodan reminded Fijian women and fellow athletes that sports is an important tool in enhancing a person’s life and nation building.
She made the comments during the Women In Sports luncheon at Holiday Inn, Suva, yesterday.
Rodan, who returned from Samoa this week, said women should change the way they look at things around them.
“We’re advocating, raising awareness that we want to be included out there, but then I guess in some ways our message is contradicting to our actions because we’re not taking up the opportunity,” she said.
“I assure you that sports has a lot to give. You can be anything through sports, you don’t have to get a university degree to be in sports.
“You can be from a rural area or from an interior part in Fiji to become a sports person, but through hardwork and dedication, you can become an athlete and a champion.”
The Paralympian, and mother of six, who was born an able-bodied, related her experiences as a physically challenged mother and athlete, her experience and the difficulties she faced and urged more women in similar conditions to participate in sports and community activities.
“It has been a good experience seeing the whole world. I don’t see a lot of women with disabilities participating in sports and I would like to emphasise on inclusive, it means so much.
“The door is open and there are a lot of opportunities and for us here in Fiji, there aren’t a lot of us participating and I would love to see many of us women taking part in sports,” she said.
Paulini Ratulailai
Friday, March 03, 2017.FT
