The tiny
pacific nation of Fiji has won its first ever Olympic medal after thumping
Great Britain 43-7 in the rugby sevens final to scoop the gold medal.
Wild
celebrations erupted across the island nation as drivers leapt out of their
cars and people took to the streets to wave the national flag, phone carriers
offered free calls. Fiji Airways, the
national carrier, announced the only beer it will serve on today will be Fiji
Gold, a popular local beverage; and the government declared August 22 a
national holiday to mark the win.
According to
The Fiji Times , staff at the main hospital reported that “patients used their
crutches or wheelchairs to get to the television to ensure they do not miss
history in the making”.
Present Prime
Minister and former coup leader, Frank Bainimarama thanked the Olympic
officials for including the sport in the competition for the first time.
“We can
showcase little country like us who don’t have the financial backing like the
other countries have, but we managed to beat them,” he said. It’s a wonderful
feeling to be Fijian right now wherever you are in the world, especially those
back home.”
Shops and
schools in the nation of 900000 closed as citizens stayed glued to their
televisions as the historic final unfolded.
Other Pacific
nations say they too will celebrate the “magnificent and emphatic victory by a
Pacific nation on the world stage”.
"Pacific
Island nations may have the smallest teams competing in Rio, but Fiji has today
proven they are mighty," said Colin Tukuitonga, director-general of the
Pacific.
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