The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) barred Fiji in October after the Commonwealth suspended the country's membership.

A website LetFijiPlay.com, an initiative of the Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC),  has now been set-up to try to get the decision reversed.

It has already received a boost from after Sam Coffa, the President of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA), and Perry Crosswhite, the chief executive, both offered their support by signing the on-line petition.

Coffa said: "The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is very concerned that athletes are being made to suffer as a result of sanctions against actions by their respective Governments."

His view was backed-up by Crosswhite, a former basketball player who remembers how some of the world's top athletes missed the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of a boycott over the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan.

Crosswhite said: "I have great sympathy for the plight of the Fijian athletes at present.

"They are pawns in a political game, no matter which side is right or wrong."

The petition has received support from many sports people who have been affected by past boycotts and sanctions at Olympic and Commonwealth levels, as well as national sporting federation representatives from around the Commonwealth and the world.

Crosswhite said: "As an 1980 Olympic athlete we felt much the same with pressure being put on our sporting leaders to keep us from competing in Moscow.

"Fortunately we did take part but the process took its toll on us and others.

"Athletes should not bear the brunt of political sanctions."

Fiji have been given some hope by the fact that CGF President Mike Fennell and ruling Executive Board have recommended to the Commonwealth that sport be removed as a part of sanction so that Fiji can take part in the Games.

If the proposal is accepted, Fiji can participate in the Commonwealth Games, where they are among the favourites to win a gold medal in the rugby sevens tournament.

Fiji has been suspended following its failure to meet the deadline to come out with a time schedule to hold credible elections in the country no later than October 2010.

Fiji also missed the 1990 and 1994 Games in Auckland and Victoria respectively because they were suspended from the Commonwealth.

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