Fiji Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Culture == {{Main|Culture of Fiji|Architecture of Fiji|Music of Fiji}} [[File:BureNavala2.jpg|thumb|Several ''[[Bure (Fiji)|bure]]'' (one-room Fijian houses) in the village of [[Navala]] in the [[Nausori Highlands]]]] While [[Fijian people|indigenous Fijian]] culture and traditions are very vibrant and are integral components of everyday life for the majority of Fiji's population, Fijian society has evolved over the past century with the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese as well as significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly [[Tonga]] and [[Samoa]]. Thus, the various cultures of Fiji have come together to create a unique multicultural national identity.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Fiji: the challenges and opportunities of diversity|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/525fbfda4.pdf|journal=Minority Rights Group International 2013|access-date=24 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629230414/http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/525fbfda4.pdf|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Fiji's culture was showcased at the [[Expo 86|World Exposition held in Vancouver]], Canada, in 1986 and more recently at the [[Expo 2010|Shanghai World Expo 2010]], along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20100311/000005.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619073416/http://en.expo2010.cn/a/20100311/000005.htm |archive-date=19 June 2010 |title=Pacific Pavilion unveils artist's renditions|website=Shanghai World Expo 2010 website En.expo2010.cn |date= 11 March 2010|access-date=2 May 2010}}</ref> === Sport === {{Main|Sport in Fiji}} Sports are very popular in Fiji, particularly sports involving physical contact. Fiji's national sport is [[Rugby sevens]]. [[Cricket]] is a minor sport in Fiji. [[Cricket Fiji]] is an associate member of the [[International Cricket Council]] ("ICC").<ref>{{Cite web|title=Associate Member: Cricket Fiji|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/members/east-asia-pacific/associate/93|access-date=19 July 2020|publisher=International Cricket Council|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731055226/https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/members/east-asia-pacific/associate/93|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Netball]] is the most popular women's participation sport in Fiji.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fiji Times article on participation in netball, 14 Sept 2015|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=321694|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812085844/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=321694|archive-date=12 August 2016|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref>The Pacific Islands: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Brij V. Lal, Kate Fortune, p458</ref> The [[Fiji national netball team|national team]] has been internationally competitive, at [[INF Netball World Cup|Netball World Cup]] competitions reaching 6th position in 1999, its highest level to date. The team won gold medals at the 2007<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 South Pacific Games results|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?&sID=43933&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=4358816|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124202318/http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi|archive-date=24 January 2014|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> and [[Netball at the 2015 Pacific Games|2015]] [[Pacific Games]]. Because of the success of Fiji's national basketball teams, the popularity of basketball has experienced rapid growth in recent years. In the past, the country only had few basketball courts, which severely limited Fijians who desired to practice the sport more frequently. Through recent efforts by the national federation Basketball Fiji and with the support of the Australian government, many schools have been able to construct courts and provide their students with basketball equipment.<ref>[https://www.fiba.basketball/news/basketball-fiji-bringing-the-sport-to-all Basketball Fiji bringing the sport to all] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924170445/http://www.fiba.com/news/basketball-fiji-bringing-the-sport-to-all|date=24 September 2016}}, FIBA.com, 13 May 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.</ref> [[Vijay Singh]], a PGA golfer from Fiji, was ranked the [[List of world number one male golfers|world number one male golfer]] for a total of 32 weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official World Golf Ranking |url=https://www.owgr.com/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=OWGR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Number 1 Golf Rankings |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=golfonline&id=7706867 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> ==== Rugby union ==== {{Main|Rugby union in Fiji}} {{more citations needed section|date=January 2016}} [[File:Fiji vs Canada RWC2007 lineout.jpg|thumb|The [[Fiji national rugby union team]] during the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] playing against [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]]]] [[Rugby Union]] is the most-popular team sport played in Fiji.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiji.travel/us/information/guides/sports-golf|title=Sports & Golf {{!}} The official website of Tourism Fiji|website=www.fiji.travel|access-date=30 March 2017|date=30 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831014542/http://www.fiji.travel/us/information/guides/sports-golf|archive-date=31 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Fiji national rugby sevens team|Fiji national sevens side]] is a popular and successful international rugby sevens team and has won the [[Hong Kong Sevens]] a record eighteen times since its inception in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hksevens.com/about-us/past-champions|title=Hong Kong Sevens β Past Champions|website=hksevens.com|access-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209065609/http://hksevens.com/about-us/past-champions|archive-date=9 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Fiji has also won the [[Rugby World Cup Sevens]] twice β in 1997 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fijirugby.com/rugby-house/history/|title=Fiji Rugby Union " History|website=www.fijirugby.com|access-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212184721/http://www.fijirugby.com/rugby-house/history/|archive-date=12 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The Fiji national rugby union sevens team is the reigning [[World Rugby Sevens Series|Sevens World Series]] Champions in World Rugby. In 2016, they won Fiji's first ever Olympic medal in the [[Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics]], winning gold by defeating Great Britain 43β7 in the final.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-22/fiji-olympic-team-returns-home-to-celebrations/7771170|title=Fiji rugby heroes return home from Rio to national celebrations|date=22 August 2016|work=ABC News|access-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309072031/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-22/fiji-olympic-team-returns-home-to-celebrations/7771170|archive-date=9 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Fiji national rugby union team|national rugby union team]] is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga in the union. Fiji is currently ranked eleventh in the world by the IRB ({{as of|2015|December|28|lc=y}}). The national rugby union team has competed at five [[Rugby World Cup]] competitions, the first being in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], where they reached the quarter-finals. The team again qualified in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] when they upset [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] 38β34 to progress to the quarter-finals where they lost to the eventual Rugby World Cup winners, [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]. Fiji competes in the [[Pacific Tri-Nations]] and the [[IRB Pacific Nations Cup]]. The sport is governed by the [[Fiji Rugby Union]] which is a member of the [[Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance]], and contributes to the [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team]]. At the club level there are the [[Skipper Cup]] and Farebrother Trophy Challenge. ==== Rugby league ==== {{Main|Rugby league in Fiji}} The [[Fiji national rugby league team]], nicknamed the Bati (pronounced [mΛbatΚi]), represents Fiji in the sport of rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 1992. It has competed in the [[Rugby League World Cup]] on three occasions, with their best results coming when they made consecutive semi-final appearances in the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]], [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]] and 2019 Rugby League World Cup. The team also competes in the [[Pacific Cup]]. ==== Association football ==== [[Association football]] was traditionally a minor sport in Fiji, popular largely amongst the Indo-Fijian community, but with international funding from [[FIFA]] and sound local management over the past decade, the sport has grown in popularity in the wider Fijian community. It is now the second most-popular sport in Fiji, after rugby for men and after netball for women. The [[Fiji Football Association]] is a member of the [[Oceania Football Confederation]]. The [[Fiji national football team|national football team]] defeated [[New Zealand men's national football team|New Zealand]] 2β0 in the 2008 [[OFC Nations Cup]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Oceanian Nations Cup 2008 | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/08oc.html | access-date=6 September 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006200422/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/08oc.html | archive-date=6 October 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> on their way to a joint-record third-place finish. However, they have never reached a [[FIFA World Cup]] to date. Fiji won the [[Pacific Games]] football tournament in [[Football at the 1991 South Pacific Games|1991]] and [[Football at the 2003 South Pacific Games|2003]]. Fiji qualified for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] men's tournament for the first time in history. 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