Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, who is also the Chairman of the Samoa Rugby Union, has congratulated Fiji on its gold medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama received the congratulatory note from Tuilaepa last week. 

The Prime Minister is quoted to have said that the Fiji Men’s 7s team did a magnificent job and thoroughly deserved their victory in Rio.

“Fiji’s success is a great achievement for all our Pacific Islands unions,” he is quoted saying in the statement.

Fiji demolished Great Britain last week to win the gold. Back in Fiji, the win has given tourism in the island a massive boost.

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said the Sevens team had done more for Fiji in terms of marketing than any other campaign or achievement.

“The sevens team boys deserve more than big hugs and accolades because for 20 minutes they mesmerised millions of people around the world with their breathtaking skills when they ran riot over Great Britain 43-7,” he said.

“The only other event that raised interest was when Iliesa Delana won gold in London.

“In the euphoria of victory, we have forgotten about how much those warriors have really done for Fiji.

“They broke records in terms of internet trending and if we even realise one per cent of the number of hits on Fiji and if this translates into additional visitor arrivals and investment interest, then Fiji will have to prepare for a tourism and investment boom of proportions that we have never experienced before.”

Fiji is also the first Pacific Island country to scoop a gold medal in the summer Games.