Globe Fiji Pro Surfing Champs Give Fiji Exposure

Globe Fiji Pro Surfing Championship will give Immesurable International Exposure to Fiji - says PM Bainimarama

The Globe Fiji Pro-World Surfing Championship held on Tavarua Island will give the nation immeasurable international exposure and definitely boost ou Tourism Industry says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

Bainimarama with World Number One Kelly Slater

Taking time from his busy schedules, Commodore Bainimarama said he was also delighted to open the 2008 Globe Fiji Pro-World Surfing Championship.

"The international exposure this year's event will give to our nation will be immeasurable," he said.

"This would definitely be a boost to our Tourism Industry, and also to our attractiveness as an investment destination.

Commodore Bainimarama who opened the professional world surfing event assured that the water sport would soon gain prominence as a professional sport in the country.

"In Fiji, although surfing is yet to gain prominence as a professional sport, this surface water sport of wave riding has tremendous potential for our people," he said.

"The Local Fijian Wildcard Globe Pro Fiji Trials conducted by this resort for locals as a lead up to this event has encouraged local surfers to activel train and participate in this sport. The finals which we will witness today will enable the winner, a local to participate in the main event against the world's best. This is a good start for Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama was without doubt that like our sevens Rugby, local surfers will one day be counted with the best in the world.

He also assured participants will get the best hospitality at Tavarua Resort and wished them well

"This is Fiji at its best. I wish you all an exciting and memorable World Pro Surfing Championship and may the best wave rider win.

"Those of you who are visiting our shores, I extend you a very warm welcome to Fiji. We are honoured to host this world class event that has drawn the top 44 surfers of the entire world.

Commodore Bainimarama thanked Mr. Jon Roseman and his management team here at Tavarua for making this event happen in Fiji.

"It shows the confidence you have in our beloved Fiji and I am personally grateful to you for that," he said.

"I also would like to thank the sponsors Globe International and the Association of Surfing Professionals for agreeing to conduct this world event in Fiji for another three years beginning in 2008. I am told that in 2005, the Globe Pro Fiji event was voted by competitors as the best in the world and we are indeed humbled by this.

The Globe Pro Fiji Wave Surfing contest at Tavarua is being aired live across the globe in many countries registering as many as 15.3 million viewers this time round surpassing last time figures of 9.3 million.

The competition will be held over two weeks and the Current World and Eight-time world Champion Kelly Slater is also at Tavarua to defend his title.

The 36 year old Florida native has been surfing the waves at Tavarua for the last 10 years and is no stranger to the cloudbreaks.

ENDS

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