Fiji declares public holiday after first ever Olympic medal win - Polidicks

[QUOTE]The Pacific nation of Fiji has erupted with wild celebrations and announced a nationwide public holiday after winning [URL="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2016/08/11/team-gb-vs-south-africa-rio-olympics-rugby-sevens-semi-live/"]its first Olympic medal[/URL] – a gold – in the men’s rugby sevens. The thumping 43-7 victory over Britain in the final prompted celebrations across the island nation as drivers leapt out of their cars and people took to the streets to wave the national flag. In other responses in the rugby-obsessed nation: phone carriers offered free calls; Fiji Airways, the national carrier, announced the only beer it will serve on Friday will be Fiji Gold, a popular local beverage; and the government declared August 22 a national holiday to mark the win. Some fans said Ben Ryan, the team’s London-born coach, and his family should be given citizenship. According to [I]The Fiji Times[/I], staff at the main hospital reported that “patients used their crutches or wheelchairs to get to the television to ensure they do not miss history in the making”. Frank Bainimarama, a former coup leader who was elected prime minister, thanked the [URL="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/"]Olympic[/URL] officials for including the sport in the competition for the first time. “We can showcase little country like us who don’t have the financial backing like the other countries have, but we managed to beat them,” he said. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/12/fiji-declares-public-holiday-after-first-ever-olympic-medal-win/[/url]

Aww that's kinda cute, not in a humiliating way.

That's pretty awesome, I've never seen a nation be so excited about the Olympics before, and they really deserve to be with how they trashed Britain. It's great to hear a good news story for once in SH.

This is jamacan bobsled team level stuff imo. Good on them.

Now that's something i wish got to experience.

Is singapore going to do something similar seeing as they won their first ever gold today in swimming? Real remarkable work by Fiji tho, rugby is an easy win for any pacific nation

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;50877494]Is singapore going to do something similar seeing as they won their first ever gold today in swimming? Real remarkable work by Fiji tho, rugby is an easy win for any pacific nation[/QUOTE] Yea, monday will be a schooling day

[QUOTE=fruxodaily;50877494]Is singapore going to do something similar seeing as they won their first ever gold today in swimming? Real remarkable work by Fiji tho, rugby is an easy win for any pacific nation[/QUOTE] Singapore is No Fun Allowed: The Country, I don't think they have holidays at all over there

When I saw this headline I grinned, and I don't often do that these days. Grats, Fiji!

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;50877670]Singapore is No Fun Allowed: The Country, I don't think they have holidays at all over there[/QUOTE] Educate yourself. [url]http://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2015/0512-ph-2016[/url]

[QUOTE=Blizzerd;50877421]This is jamacan bobsled team level stuff imo. Good on them.[/QUOTE] not so much, fiji is really good at rugby anyway

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;50877670]Singapore is No Fun Allowed: The Country, I don't think they have holidays at all over there[/QUOTE] this is correct, we have school/work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round. we are worked to the bone and not allowed to have fun or we don't get our daily ration from our Benevolent Overlords. get real lmao

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;50877623]Yea, monday will be a schooling day[/QUOTE] it took me too long to get this god damnit I hope you guys give Schooling a heroes' welcome!

Can we get a day of mourning in Britain for this?

Its not just their first medal, its a gold too

Nice! That was such a great match match to watch, congrats to Fiji.

[QUOTE=karlosfandango;50877803]Can we get a day of mourning in Britain for this?[/QUOTE] Honestly, when a small nation works this hard to master a sport this well, even when your team is on the end of it you can only sit back and be impressed. Plus, the British attitude at this games has been "oh, good heavens, we got a bronze, golly gosh!"

I never expected a country like Fiji to be so big into rugby. But stranger things have happened. Though it is kinda sweet that they've finally gotten a gold medal. It's like when Leonardo DiCaprio finally got an Oscar. In more ways than one, come to think about it...

[QUOTE=ironman17;50878066]I never expected a country like Fiji to be so big into rugby. But stranger things have happened. Though it is kinda sweet that they've finally gotten a gold medal. It's like when Leonardo DiCaprio finally got an Oscar. In more ways than one, come to think about it...[/QUOTE] it should be pretty obvious that pacific nations are incredibly passionate about rugby, it's almost a religion

I was unaware of this. Though presumably it spread from Australian colonists back in the day? Or did it evolve independently?

This is really fantastic. Congrats, Fiji.

Well figians are absolutely fucking massive so they have got that going for them.

This is just the beginning, soon the nationalistic fervor will be too large for the island to contain. Imperialism will rise again and they will begin the invasion of Australia with the rugby team at the vanguard.

Congrats to them!

[QUOTE=NeonpieDFTBA;50877972]Honestly, when a small nation works this hard to master a sport this well, even when your team is on the end of it you can only sit back and be impressed. Plus, the British attitude at this games has been "oh, good heavens, we got a bronze, golly gosh!"[/QUOTE] You need to lighten up a little and maybe not be so literal all the time.

[QUOTE=karlosfandango;50879138]You need to lighten up a little and maybe not be so literal all the time.[/QUOTE] I figured it was a joke but was adding in a sincere point behind it.

They deserved their win tbh.

[QUOTE=ironman17;50878161]I was unaware of this. Though presumably it spread from Australian colonists back in the day? Or did it evolve independently?[/QUOTE] I'd actually say that New Zealand had more influence on them due to them owning some Pacific nations themselves helped out by Aus and the Brits, they would of bought the game over. It's like cricket in India and Pakistan being so huge due to colonialism

Yeah, my friend's working in Savusavu, he said even up there he was like "Yeaaaah nobody's coming in to work today."

For all the crap this Olympics is getting this probably gave me the biggest smile out of any Olympic related announcement ever.