Fireworks lit up the sky in Fiji last night as the nation celebrated their Sevens team winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Celebrations in Fiji. Photo: Screengrab
Fiji have now won back-to-back rugby sevens Olympic gold medals.
Shortly after the Fiji men's sevens team secured the historic win, videos began circulating on social media showing colourful, socially distanced celebrations in backyards, and showing appreciation for the bangs and crackles of their neighbours fireworks displays.
Don't mind my laugh - my neighbors driving up and down the driveway because it's curfew Vinaka Viti so so proud of you all today! Can't wait to celebrate when all this is over! #FijiRugby #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/RjIHFFE3YX
— ela just ela (@elavolau) July 28, 2021
If there was no curfew you’d see our neighbors dancing on the streets but despite that you can hear their excitement as the sounds of fireworks, shouts of cheers & qiri kava rises out of different houses our street. Such a happy moment for us all. Vinaka Viti #Olympics7s #Fiji pic.twitter.com/EfNuHEsbNb
— Lisi Naziah Tora Ali-Roy (@Alinaziah) July 28, 2021
Nawaka Village right now! #FijiGold #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/4iZSTTcQX7
— Filipe Naikaso (@Naikasof) July 28, 2021
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama tweeted the "win was more than gold".
He congratulated the team, saying "your love for this game, for each other, and for your country has shown again that when Fijians unite, we can achieve greatness - no matter what the world throws our way."
Fiji is grappling with a worsening Covid-19 outbreak, with more than 19,000 positive people in isolation and over 200 deaths reported.
Fiji right now...during curfew... everyone shouting, beating drums, I think our neighbor is blowing his lotulotu horn thing...... fire works and all...
— K.Lagi (@KLagi2) July 28, 2021
Vinaka @Fiji7sTeam
Vinaka Viti!! #TeamFiji tuga tuge #gold pic.twitter.com/Wer7PlNlEk
WHAT A GAME last #Olympics we gathered in numbers, tears flowed & bells were rung. Tonight in the middle of a pandemic & #Fiji under curfew, pots & pans ring, fireworks go off in yards & the cheers from every house can be heard! GOLD BABY ✊ #Tokyo2020 #TeamFiji https://t.co/BMe2JsoOpl pic.twitter.com/MPvABwSs5a
— Jacquee Speight (@jacqueespeight) July 28, 2021
Sheer jubilation for my kids
— Tara Savou (@SavouTara) July 28, 2021
Congratulations to Fiji 7s team for GOLD!!!#OlympicGamesTokyo2020 #FijiRugby #TeamFiji pic.twitter.com/8o98ABDQlK
Despite having to stay apart, the country came together to celebrate - by singing, yelling, and banging pots and pans. Neighbours celebrated with one another - but from afar.
#teamfiji This is Fiji right now. !! WARARASA VITI !! pic.twitter.com/GU4mScSuhp
— Mana (@samgasamu) July 28, 2021
Suva/Fiji celebrating Fiji’s successful Gold medal defense at the Tokyo Olympics #teamfiji
— B (@b_lenoa) July 28, 2021
My heart is full❤️❤️
And my stomach will be full of Bounty
Credit: Dr. Sripad Sosale (he will kill me for that) pic.twitter.com/4vPDGx30mo
Due to Covid restrictions, some of us had to watch from afar.
— Max Vosailagi (@realVosailagi) July 28, 2021
For the love of Rugby #teamFiji #Olympics #Rugby pic.twitter.com/hiKmrA0COE
We have overcome. #Fij #Olympics pic.twitter.com/lQJ8v1RXbY
— Kelvin Anthony (@kelvinfiji) July 28, 2021
My heart is full because #Fiji takes home the #Gold and brings joy and relief to a nation battling #COVID. Thank you #TeamFiji for making our day! Congratulations!!! Toso Fiti!❤ #TokyoOlympics2020 pic.twitter.com/Z2299icqIO
— Mele Mauala (@MeleMauala) July 28, 2021
We were recovering from TC Winston when we first won our first-ever #OlympicGames gold medal! Tonight our warriors unite yet again to bring back that gold medal for a country battling the deadly #COVID-19 pandemic. Vinaka vakalevu Team Fiji ❤ https://t.co/QHPrNlERxm
— Siteri Sau (@Siteri1908) July 28, 2021
