International passenger flights to Fiji remain suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only limited "special flights" operating.

The country recorded its first case of community transmission for 12 months this April, and by July it had the highest infection rate per capita in the world.

Fiji has a population of just under 900,000 and since the beginning of the pandemic has recorded 49,390 cases and 540 deaths as of September 16.

As per FBC News, the Fiji Sports Commission provided a grant of 500,000 FJD (£170,000/$240,000/€200,000) for FASANOC’S preparations for Birmingham 2022.

Mar admitted the pandemic had taken its toll on Fiji’s build-up to the Games but is still hopeful of success in the English city.

"Financially, it will be a challenge and we’re going to be talking to the National Federations shortly," she said.

"This is the Commonwealth Games, an international event and we’re not going there just to participate obviously, we’re going to be competitive."

The FASANOC chief executive added that strict measures are likely to be in place to limit the risk of transmission during training for Birmingham 2022.

"We’re going to have to make sure that we have a very strict procedures in place and take pages out of the handbook as well as the team Fiji standard operating procedures," Mar commented.

Fiji enjoyed its most successful Commonwealth Games since Auckland 1950 at the last edition in 2018.

It sent 96 athletes to the Gold Coast, with Eileen Cikamatana winning a weightlifting gold in the women’s under-90-kilogram division - its first at the Games since Brisbane 1982.

The men’s rugby sevens team also clinched silver, while two bronzes took Fiji’s overall Commonwealth Games tally to three golds, four silvers and eight bronzes.

Its men’s rugby sevens team had qualified once again for Birmingham 2022.

Next year’s Commonwealth Games are due to be held from July 28 to August 8.