Compromise, transparency and fairness is what Western Athletics club members have put forward to visiting IAAF official Jee Isram who met with them yesterday in Nadi.
An Athletics Fiji Elective General Meeting will be held in Suva on Saturday as requested by its international parent body and Isram who is the IAAF Senior Manager of Development & Member Relations will serve as an observer.
Former athlete and Athletics Fiji President Rohan Prasad of Lautoka who voiced his concerns to Isram yesterday, stressed that it’s high time for a change within Athletics Fiji.
“It’s better for the other group to compromise. We are ready, they should come up and invite us and we will be there in the meeting but, there are certain areas in AF and certain people in there who are sitting in there for their own gain. Put our people in there too so that fairness can be seen by everybody. As far as I am concerned, it is a huge shame that a guy from IAAF has to come here to sort out things for us. He looks after 200+ countries. Whatever we have told him, if anyone wants to say otherwise, it will be a bit hard because the truth is always bitter and we have told him what that truth is in our situation.”
The recognition of affiliated clubs to Athletics Fiji is under scrutiny by both factions leading up to Saturday’s EGM because membership fees were paid to one or the other AF Committee.
However, earlier appointed IAAF mediator Dr Robin Mitchell after investigations, had ruled the western club affiliated members to AF, allowing them to be a part of the Annual General Meeting that was held in March.
This is the first time an IAAF official has had to come to our shores to sort out an Athletics Fiji issue.
Isram however, has already been to Fiji – last year in Nadi to attend an Oceania Athletics Council Meeting.
Today, he is expected to meet with outgoing Athletics Fiji President Albert Miller whose term ends on June 6 and who may be seeking re-election.
Discussions will be held as a lead up to the Elective General Meeting in Suva this weekend.
