Commonwealth bans Fiji from Delhi Games

Fijian athletes are banned from competing in next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The decision was announced in a communique at the conclusion of the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago.
The leaders of the 53 nations that make up the Commonwealth - including Australia,
Britain, New Zealand and South Africa - "expressed deep concern at the further
deterioration of the situation in Fiji Islands with regard to its adherence to
fundamental Commonwealth values, including the abrogation of the Constitution in
April 2009, ongoing restrictions on human rights including freedom of speech and
assembly, and the interim government's decision to further delay elections until
2014".
Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth on September 1 after self-appointed Fijian
leader Frank Bainimarama refused to hold elections by 2010.
The CHOGM leaders "observed that Commonwealth sporting events represent a
significant public demonstration of the unity of the Commonwealth as a family of
members with a shared commitment to fundamental values. They affirmed that sporting
ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the
(Commonwealth Games) Association".