Team Fiji was represented by Inosi Bulimairewa and Iosefo Rakesa at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Monday 20th September, 2021

The closing ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games was held at the city’s Olympic Stadium on September 6, bringing an end to an amazing two months of international sporting competition.

After being postponed for a year due to the international COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games was held over 12 days and featured 539 events across 22 different sports hosted at 21 venues.

Fiji was represented at the Games by two athletes, Inosi Bulimairewa and Iosefo Rakesa.

Iosefo Rakesa was Fiji's flagbearer at the Games Opening Ceremony on August 25. He was accompanied by his teammate Inosi Bulimairewa, coach Fred Fatiaki and Team Fiji Chef De Mission Dr Rounak Lal.

Both Fijian Paralympians represented the country in athletics, with Inosi Bulimairewa competing in the F64 Javelin final on August 30. Bulimairewa ranked 10th in the final with a 42.55m best distance.

Iosefo Rakesa was disqualified due to a technical timeout in the Shot Put F41 final on August 30.

Tragically, Rakesa’s dream of a podium finish at the Games was shattered after being disqualified from competing in the F41 Javelin event on September 5 due to his technical timeout in the earlier event.

The Fiji Paralympic Committee appealed the decision twice but was unsuccessful both times.

The Fiji Paralympic Committee expressed their disappointment in a statement on Facebook, “He (Rakesa) has been denied a second time in participating at the Paralympics Tokyo2020 due to the technical timeout at his previous event.”

“FPC has appealed the decision twice, however, was unsuccessful both times.

“Sefo and the entire team are devastated and are sorry for letting our FPC fans down.”

With the Tokyo Games concluded, the shortened Paralympic cycle to the Paris 2024 Games begins.

As the official Telecommunications and ICT Partner of the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC), Vodafone supported Team Fiji through the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Vodafone supplied telecommunications and related services and will continue to in the lead up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the 2023 Pacific Games and the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.