FORMER Philippines runner Benjamin Cesar said a high performance centre in the Oceania region would be ideal to produce some of the best athletes for the region. <\/p>\n
He was in the country to look for talented athletes in the 2017 Oceania Athletics Championships. <\/p>\n
\"The biggest way to improve the athletics in the Oceania region was to get a national training pool in country and for the region there should be a high performance centre,' he said. <\/p>\n
\"If you get a high performance centre then each country will give their best so the level does not only become better in Fiji but becomes better in the whole region. If the countries like Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea participate then the level will keep getting better. <\/p>\n
\"I think the talent identification is a way to find more athletes. One can identify talents but if you cannot cultivate the talent then the identification goes no where. Finding the athletes in the Coca-Cola Games and giving them a proper program to follow and to show them that the support from the Athletics Fiji will allow them to see the world will get them a better education.\" <\/p>\n
He also played a leading role in helping the Fijian athletes with their outfit working for a renowned branding company. <\/p>\n
\"I have been helping Fiji athletes and I was fortunate enough to work with a clothing brand and was able to help them beginning in 2013. <\/p>\n
\"I got back in touch with Athletics Fiji in 2012 however at that time we did not see a reason to help because of the situation the federation was in. Once Joseph Rodan and Joseph Rodan Jr got involved then we agreed to help,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"We met Banuve Tabakaucoro in Beijing, China so we outfitted him and wherever we saw a Fijian athlete we decided to help out and it was because of that relationship. We did not treat them differently from other athletes. <\/p>\n
\"The future is bright as long as there is a good guidance and leadership.\" <\/p>\n
Cesar along with his wife and two kids took part in the Olympic Day fun run at Albert Park in Suva last Friday. <\/p>\n
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Assistance for Oceania athletes - Fiji Times Online - Fiji Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FORMER Philippines runner Benjamin Cesar said a high performance centre in the Oceania region would be ideal to produce some of the best athletes for the region. Continue reading