REPORT TO THE 2017 ANOC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Prague, Czech Republic.
Firstly, on behalf of my colleagues and friends in Oceania, let me congratulate the Secretary General of the Palau NOC and member of the ANOC Executive, Mrs. Baklai Temengil, on her election as an IOC Member at the IOC Session held in Lima, Peru. Baklai has been part of our ONOC family for many years now, and was elected as Vice President of ONOC earlier this year – the only woman in such a Continental Organization. Baklai also brings to the table extensive experience in government and public affairs and I am sure she will be a valuable contributor to the work of the IOC and ANOC going forward.
2017 ONOC Annual General Assembly
The 2017 ONOC General Assembly and associated meetings involving the major stakeholders in Sport in Oceania were held in Nadi, Fiji from 28th March to 1st April.
The ONOC General Assembly received reports from the various ONOC Commissions, the Oceania Australia Foundation, the Organization of Sports Federations in Oceania and the Oceania Regional Anti Doping Organization.
The General Assembly elected the following ONOC Office Bearers for 2017 – 2020:
President: Dr. Robin Mitchell (Fiji)
Vice President: Mrs. Baklai Temengil (Palau)
Secretary General: Ricardo Blas (Guam)
Members:James Tobin (Federated States of Micronesia)
Antoine Boudier (Vanuatu)
Helen Brownlee (Australia)
Carmelita Donald (Papua New Guinea)
IOC Members on the ONOC Executive Board include:
John Coates (Australia)
Barry Maister (New Zealand)
Mrs. Auvita Rapilla (Papua New Guinea)
James Tomkins (Australia – IOC Athletes Commission)
Sarah Walker (New Zealand – IOC Athletes Commission)
Apart from the ONOC GA, the following meetings were held
- Olympic Solidarity Regional Forum conducted by Olympic Solidarity
- Olympic Marketing Workshop conducted by IOC TMS
- Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organization Board Meeting
- Oceania Sports Education Program Regional Workshop
The GA approved the appointment of new members to the ONOC Athletes Commission, Medical Commission and Women in Sports Commission.
The 2018 ONOC General Assembly will be held in Apia, Samoa.
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
Most ONOC members sent teams to participate in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan in September. This participation was made possible through the extremely generous financial assistance of the Games Organizing Committee towards the costs of travel by Oceania’s delegations to Ashgabat. All those who participated agreed that the experience of competing against the best from Asia in
11 different sports will benefit their competitors in the years to come.
Most Oceania Medals were won in Weightlifting with Fiji’s Eileen Cikamatana winning Oceania’s first gold medal. Apolonia Vaivai won silver for Fiji, as did Mathlynn Sasser of the Marshall Islands, while Samoa’s Iuniarra Sipaia won bronze for Samoa.
Keshena Waterford and Ruth Hock each won bronze medals for Australia in Taekwondo.
Olympic Solidarity
ONOC Continental Programmes include:
*National Solidarity programmes
*Regional Olympic Solidarity Programmes (in conjunction with Oceania International Federations)
*Information Technology
*Olympoceania
*Oceania Sports Information Centre
*Regional / National Games Support
*IF / NOC Technical Experts programme
*ONOC Administration Grant
*Regional Development Fund
Oceania Olympic Values programmes are delivered via:
* Oceania Sports Education Programme
* Oceania Athletes Commission
Voices of the Athletes programme/Sustainable Coastlines
* Oceania Regional Anti-doping programme
* Oceania Women in Sport Commission
* ONOC Medical Commission
World Programmes (conducted by ONOC on behalf of Olympic Solidarity)
*Regional Olympic Forum
*Administrative Subsidy to NOCs
Oceania Sports Education Programme (OSEP)
OSEP is seen by the ONOC as the basis of sport development in the region, across all countries. OSEP is a core strategic direction for ONOC aimed to lift sports delivery performance.
OSEP is committed to the training and development pathway for Pacific sport volunteers and professionals, to inspire more sport participants in communities and produce champions at international level through the provision of quality sport education.
In the last Olympiad 2013-2016, with an allocation of US$400,000 annually, the OSEP financial resources were dedicated to setting up the regional sport education framework, standardizing the processes, growing the OSEP Trainers team (OSEP Educators, Master Educators, Mentors) regionally and nationally and developing the National Olympic Committee (NOC) to manage all OSEP delivery processes, standards and courses.
This resulted in:
- OSEP trainers grew from 28 in 2013 to a combined total of 199 in 2016 [Active trainers in 2017 have numbered to 135].
- Total participants reached ranged from 249 in 2013 to an increased total of 1,974 by the end of the Olympiad. All 11 OSEP courses were delivered.
- Engaging full time staff in 8 NOC’s to drive OSEP in country
- Total of three regional and 7 nationals were recruited to support the roll out of OSEP in the past year.
- At national level, 9 NOC’s allocated annually between US$5,000 and US$10,000 respectively from their National Activities Program (and other funding’s like Commonwealth Games Grant, Government programs and grants) to support delivery of OSEP courses.
- New curricula developed include OSEP Strength and Conditioning coach, Development Coach and National Team Manager courses.
- Regional Master Educators were engaged to deliver training through the pacific in the NOC’s of Fiji, FSM, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Guam and Palau.
- OSEP conducted tracer studies in Samoa, Tuvalu, PNG and Kiribati evaluating the impact of its training across the member countries.
Over the past year, OSEP secured new agreements with regional sport federations such as Oceania Zonal Volleyball Association, Oceania Gymnastics and renewed with Oceania Rugby. Other regional sports like Oceania Badminton, Table Tennis, Hockey and Tennis continue to collaborate at country level.
ONOC Athletes Commission
The ONOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) held its inaugural meeting and elections for the new Olympiad on Saturday, 26 August in Nadi, Fiji. The Commission elected Karo Lelai (Papua New Guinea) as Chair and Inoke Niubalavu (Fiji) as Deputy Chair. Other Commission members:
- Edith Nicholas (Cook Islands)
- Jennifer Anson (Palau)
- Anolyn Lulu (Vanuatu)
- Kenneth Wallace (Australia)
- James Tomkins (IOC Athletes Commission, Australia)
- Sarah Walker (IOC Athletes Commission, New Zealand)
- Ryan Pini (Papua New Guinea, Athletes’ Representative on the Pacific Games Council)
The Commission named the following members on other ONOC Commissions as follows:
- Education Commission:Anolyn Lulu (Vanuatu)
- Medical Commission:TBC
- Women In Sport Commission: Edith Nicholas (Cook Islands)
The purpose of the ONOC Athletes Commission is “to ensure the voice of Oceania Athletes shall be expressed, submitted and taken into account in the ONOC Executive Board and its associated decision-making bodies.”
The requirement of all of our NOCs to have an active Athletes’ Commission as required by our Constitution, will keep the Commission busy in following up with our membership, and delivering the work of the Commission within NOCs.
Voices of the Athletes (VOA) Programme is an initiative developed by the Oceania
National Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission (ONOC-AC) in partnership with the
Oceania RADO, to help encourage, engage and empower Oceania athletes as leaders in their respective sport and country, advocating for doping-free sport, prevention of HIV/AIDS, and environmental issues.
The popularity of the VOA Outreach programme has increased since its inception at the 2007 South Pacific Games in Samoa, and has been invited to be a part of other national and regional sport events in the region.
ONOC Medical Commission
This year’s annual meeting was held on 7 July in Nadi, Fiji. The Commission for this Olympiad comprises:
Chairman:Dr. Chris Milne (New Zealand)
Vice Chairman:Prof. Eddie McCaig (Fiji)
Members:Dr. Peter Fricker (Australia)
Ms. Cathy Wong (Fiji)
Mr. Jason Nolan (Palau)
Dr. Luis Cruz (Guam)
Dr. Lawrence Puni (Cook Islands)
The four main goals for the Commission this Olympiad are:
- To support the establishment of NOC Medical Commissions in Oceania
- To support Pacific Games Organizing Committees Medical Teams to ensure quality services for athletes and athlete support personnel
- To facilitate information sharing with relevant stakeholders
- To support capacity building at the NOC level.
Women and Sport Oceania (WASO)
Entering a new Olympiad, a refreshed Women & Sport Commission has been appointed, under the leadership of Helen Brownlee. New members Liz Dawson (NZL), Nynette Sass (SAM) and Emma Waiwai (PNG) along with continuing member Carol Ngiraidis (PLW), have brought vitality and experience which will be welcomed across the Pacific.
Three new Executive members have responsibility for the distinct areas of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia (within Oceania), with the aim to work more closely with their respective NOC Committees. An ONOC Athletes’ Commission representative will also join the Women & Sport Commission to provide a direct link from the athlete’s perspective.
At the ONOC General Assembly, Baklai Temengil (PLW) became the first Continental Vice-President, and two new Executive members, Helen Brownlee (AUS) and Mel Donald (PNG) along with IOC Members Auvita Rapilla (PNG) and Sarah Walker (NZL) lifted the bar to reach 42% female representation on the ONOC Executive. At the recent IOC Session, we were delighted when Baklai Temengil (PLW) was elected an IOC Member.
With such strong and dynamic women in leadership, the NOCs across the region have taken up the baton, increasing the numbers of women on their respective Executive Boards and renewing their Women & Sport Committees.
The 2016 IOC Continental Trophy for Women and Sport was awarded to Moya Dodd (AUS). Nominated by FIFA, she became the most powerful Australian in world football as a co-opted member of the FIFA Executive. Her credibility and experience influenced FIFA to make changes which ensured that women had an equal role in sport, both on and off the field of play.
Communicating with women across the Pacific is an important tool for sharing our activities and encouraging greater participation. So far this year, three issues of the WASO e-News have been distributed, with a focus on women achievers across the region, International Women’s Day celebrations and highlights from Women and Sport activities in many NOC’s. In addition to the website page, a closed Facebook page has been established for regular communication.
In promoting leadership, the Commission has supported four women to attend various Leadership Courses throughout the year, in addition to two representatives to attend the International Olympic Academy (IOA) Young Participants Session.
In support of women athletes, the Commission has committed to support two athletes - Colleen Furgeson (MHL) and Vinda Teally (SOL) - through the Oceania Australia Foundation Junior College Scholarship Program for 2017/18. A new project will also be implemented early 2018, with a focus on supporting the most likely individuals/team to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. This will be a competitive process, concentrating on those who do not receive other assistance.
ONOC Communications
ONOC Communications is progressing the work of the Olympic ideals and values by engaging the media throughout the region. This time our focus is on the upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
The Games are scheduled for December and ONOC Communications recently conducted a media training course on October 24th and 25th in Port Vila, VAN for those that will assist the VAN2017 Organizing Committee disseminate news from the Games.
ONOC Communications is proud to report that journalists from around Oceania were part of their National Olympic Committee delegations to the recent 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Our regional media were able to report on highlights and achievements of Oceania competitors.
ONOC Communications is also proud to report that two Sports Journalists' Associations from the region, namely Tonga and Fiji are now official members of the International Sports Press Association or AIPS. Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea Journalists Association will also be formally becoming members of AIPS before the end of 2017.NOCs from Samoa, Tuvalu, Solomons and Kiribati have shown interest in working closely with their media.
This is another flagship programme only undertaken in Oceania.
Sport and the Sustainable Development Goals
As reported earlier, in April 2015, ONOC and UNESCO sponsored a workshop on MINEPS V. The workshop and the ONOC General Assembly following, reaffirmed the recommendations in the Declaration of Berlin and mapped out an action plan for the Pacific to implement these recommendations. The action plan has two key components:
a) Develop models for comprehensive sport policy in Pacific countries
b) Enhance sport education frameworks.
The proposal was presented at the Regional Sports Minister’s meeting held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea prior to the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Pacific Games. The theme of the meeting was “Governments and Sport – Working Together for the Pacific Islands People”.
At the end of their meeting, the Ministers issued a communiqué which
a).Acknowledged the value of sport for development in the Pacific, reaffirm the Declaration of Berlin as a set of key recommendations for the future of sport in the Pacific.
b) Endorsed ONOC as the lead agency for implementation of the Declaration in the Pacific.
c)Agreed that each country and national governing body of sport approves a focal point to work as a partner in implementation of the Declaration in the Pacific.
d)Endorsed the short-term first step project on evaluation of the contribution of sport for development in the Pacific for immediate implementation.
e) Endorsed the longer-term proposal to fully develop the detailed implementation plan by 31 December 2015 based on the recommendations of the ONOC/UNESCO workshop of 30 April 2015, including the call for partnerships and resources.
Following these meetings, ONOC has maintained work in this area. The “Pacific Sports Compass” Working Group has received European Union funding to support the development of national sports policies in the region. An update report on the project is attached.
Additionally, ONOC is collaborating with the IOC - UNESCO Quality Physical Education Project in Fiji. The OSEP Coordinator is part of the Technical Committee which is reviewing the physical education policy in Fiji, with a view to strengthening the programme.
ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
ONOC’s delegates to the ANOC Executive Council are:
President: Dr. Robin Mitchell (FIJ)
Vice President: Barry Maister (NZL)
Secretary General: Ricardo Blas (GUM)
Executive Member: Mrs Baklai Temengil (PLW)
Mrs Auvita Rapilla (PNG)
Current ONOC representatives on ANOC Commissions:
ANOC Events Working GroupMember Kevan Gosper (Australia)
Audit & FinanceMember Ken Kramer (MHL)
AthletesChair Barbara Kendall (NZL)
International RelationsMember Marcus Stephens (NRU)
Juridical Member Maria Clarke (NZL)
Marketing & New Sources of FinanceMember Sir John Dawanincura (PNG)
Medical Chairman Dr Robin Mitchell (Fiji)
Member Dr Chris Milne (New Zealand)
ModernisationChairman Kevan Gosper (Australia)
Youth Working GroupMembers Isabel-Emma Goodall and Jimmy Jonas (PLW)
UPCOMING EVENTS
• Pacific Mini Games, Vanuatu, 4 – 15th December 2017
• ONOC Executive Board Meeting, Tuvalu, February 2018
• Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia, 4 – 15th April 2018
• 35th ONOC General Assembly, Apia, Samoa, May 2018
Dr. Robin Mitchell O F
President
Oceania National Olympic Committees
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