Politics and Sport

I'm supposed to go to Fiji on Friday to present at their Coaches Conference. However, I'm now the subject of an impending full-court press by the New Zealand Government. Some months ago there was a military coup and the resident NZ High Commissioner was booted out. Then a few weeks ago some NZ businessmen were arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister, a guy with one of the most fascinating names, Commodore Bainimarama; not a 1980's UK girlie pop group but a Fijian military Commander. The NZ Government website says, 'There is some risk to your security in Fiji and we advise caution.'

(Talk about coincidence; as I'm writing this, an advert for a package holiday in Fiji has just come on TV.)

So, understandably, the NZ Government is not too friendly with Fiji. They have a ban on sporting visits to NZ by Fijian teams but application can be made for exemption and they were recently allowed in to compete in the 'world' netball championships (16 teams!)

My invitation to the Conference is for me as me, not me as a Swimming New Zealand person but me as a swimming 'expert'. However, the Government, through their funding agency, SPARC, are not happy; they are about to start putting pressure on me to withdraw.

More updates as the week progresses.