Safety of athletes are paramount at all times says Fiji Sports Commission chair Peter Mazey.

This as the Commission together with FASANOC and Ministry of Sports is calling on organizations to postpone sporting events in light of the measles outbreak.

With fifteen cases reported so far, the Ministry of Health is advising against mass gatherings.

Mazey said sporting bodies should consider the safety of athletes and spectators attending events and tournaments.

“We are very much asking them to consider the people that are attending, it’s the children you know. Older people we haven’t had cases of many deaths from measles of people our age. But the younger people that are playing sports and attending these tournaments they are in the more vulnerable zone. So we are hoping they’ll come to their senses.”

The Ministry of Sports, Fiji Sports Commission and FASANOC yesterday issued an advice to all sporting organizations to postpone scheduled events and avoid mass gatherings due to the recent measles outbreak.

Mazey added they have advised NRL and World Rugby to notify Fijian players planning to come to Fiji for the festive season to get vaccinated before entering the country.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Volleyball Federation have postponed the 2019 Beach Volleyball Continental Cup tournament which was scheduled to be held at Uprising Beach Resort next week.

Federation President Liga Gukisuva said says it’s in the best interest for everyone involved to have the tournament moved to a later date despite all arrangements being made.

Gukisuva today met with all key stakeholders to inform them directly of the current situation.

The tournament is expected to be held sometime next year.