Fiji to compete at Glasgow 2014 after Commonwealth ban downgraded
The Commonwealth has downgraded its suspension of Fiji, allowing it to compete at the Glasgow 2014 games.
The south Pacific nation was handed a full suspension in 2009 after refusing to allow democratic elections.
This was changed to a suspension from the councils of the Commonwealth at a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in London.
The move was in recognition of Fiji's progress towards holding national elections by September this year.
Lord Smith of Kelvin, chairman of the Glasgow 2014 organising committee, said he now looked forward "to welcoming Fiji's athletes and officials" to Scotland for the games.
He said: "Discussions on Fiji's participation in this summer's games will now begin between the organising committee and the Commonwealth Games Association of Fiji to establish the scale and scope of the team they propose to send to Glasgow."
The President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, HRH Tunku Imran, welcomed the decision to lift Fiji's full suspension.
"I am delighted to welcome Fiji back into the Commonwealth Games family, and very pleased that they will be able to participate in Glasgow," he said.
"The games will be an incredible festival of sport, and the celebrations will be all the more complete with our Fijian friends and colleagues taking part."