 | XVI
Commonwealth Games
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The first British Empire Games, as it was then known, was held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930. The second was held in London in 1934. Fiji took part in the third Games, which was held in 1938 in Sydney and since then in every Commonwealth Games up to 1986.
After an absence of 12 years, Fiji is now back in the Commonwealth. The Fiji Association of Sports and the National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) was very honoured and pleased to receive an invitation from the Commonwealth Games Federation to participate and take its place amongst the Commonwealth countries in the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Sixty-one athletes and twenty-six officials made up Fiji's contingent to the 1998 Commonwealth Games where we took part in Athletics, Badminton, Men & Women's Lawn Bowls, Cycling, Rugby, Swimming and Weightlifting.
It is fitting that we honour and remember athletes who have won medals for Fiji at previous Games and to commemorate Fiji's participation in the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia through the release of these stamps by Post Fiji.
The designs are as follows:
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Athletics
(Track) - 44 Cents
Fiji is the top nation in the South Pacific when it comes to athletics and has competed in Track events at Commonwealth Games since 1950. At the 1970 Commonwealth Games, Saimoni Tamani won a bronze in the 400m event. This year nine male and female athletes represented Fiji in Track events in Kuala Lumpur. |
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Lawn Bowls
- 63 Cents
Fiji bowlers marked their name in international bowling many years back with their first major international exposure at the Empire Games in 1950 where they won 2 silver medals in the Singles and Pairs events. Today, Fiji bowlers are ranked high in world standing, participating in international competitions such as the Commonwealth Games, World Bowls, Pacific Bowls, South Pacific Games, Hong Kong Classic and other Invitational events. In many of these events, the Fiji bowlers earned enormous reputation and have won many medals to their credit. Seven women and seven men represented Fiji in Lawn Bowls at the XVI Commonwealth Games in 1998. |
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Javelin
(Athletics Field) - 81 Cents
Fiji's javelin throwers are amongst the best in the region and have represented the country at the South Pacific, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. Luke Tubuna won Fiji's first javelin medal, a silver, at the 1950 Empire Games with fellow sportsman, Mataika Tuicakau winning gold in the Shot Put and bronze in the Discus. Four Fiji Athletic Field competitors represented Fiji at this year's Games. |
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Weightlifting
- $1.12
Fiji weightlifters entered their first international competition at the 1962 Empire Games, when current Senior Vice-President, Vilitati Qumivutia represented the country. Since then, Fiji has been represented at Weightlifting at all South Pacific and Mini Games and at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Weightlifting in Fiji is growing and its standards are improving rapidly. Along with Athletics, it is one of the major medal winners for Fiji at regional games. |
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Rugby 7's (Souvenir Sheet) - $2.00 Rugby is without a doubt the leading sport in Fiji, played throughout the islands 12 months of the year. The game flourishes at all levels and is generally regarded as playing a vital role in youth development. There are 34 local unions affiliated to the Fiji Rugby Football Union (FRFU). Fiji is currently the champion of the Hong Kong 7's, Fiji International 7's and the Jerusalem 7's. This souvenir sheet depicts Waisale Serevi, who captained the Fiji Sevens rugby team to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Serevi is renowned in the world as the maestro and king of Seven's rugby. His famous goose-step tactics and flair highlights his cool and carefree play on the field, something his fans look forward to at each game. The 1997 World Cup Sevens Rugby Tournament was the culmination of 22 years of sevens rugby on Hong Kong soil - with Serevi being the highest point scorer, and the Fiji team being crowned the "King of Sevens". At the Commonwealth Games, the nation was proud that the Serevi-led Fiji team lived up to its name, and won the Silver Medal. |
For information the following are medal winners from previous Commonwealth Games:
| GOLD | 1950 | Mataika Tuicakau | Shot Put |
| 1982 | Sane Fine | Boxing | |
| SILVER | 1950 | Luke Tubuna | Javelin |
| Mataika Tuicakau | Discus | ||
| BRONZE | 1950 | Lionel F. Garnett | Bowls (Singles) |
| James Poulton & Leslie Brown | Bowls (Pairs) | ||
| 1962 | Moses Evans | Boxing | |
| Holgar E. Johansen | Boxing | ||
| 1970 | Saimone Tamani | 400 metres |
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| Title | XVI Commonwealth Games, Malaysia |
| Values | 44c, 63c, 81c, $1.12, $2.00 |
| Designer | Mr. Steve Noon |
| Printer | The House Of Questa Ltd. |
| Process | Lithography |
| Stamp Size | 25.60 x 38.48 mm |
| S/S Size | 63x77 mm |
| Stamp Format | Portrait |
| Set | 50 (2x25) |
| Perforation Gauge | 14 per 2cm |
| Paper | CA Watermarked |
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