Reporting to athletes at the 5^th Oceania Athletes’ Forum (OAF) in Pacific Harbour, Fiji, Chair of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Karo Lelai of Papua New Guinea said, ‘In the 2019 Forum athletes put forward a set of fifteen recommendations to be pursued over the next four years with a biennial Forum at mid-term.

‘Despite the coronavirus pandemic the following year and halting the world until about last year and in some places this year too, there is much that has been accomplished.

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Milestones achieved during pandemic

‘The Olympic Movement’s Declaration of Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities has been adopted by the ONOC Athletes’ Commission and endorsed by the ONOC Executive Board.’

Lelai stated, ‘All participating athletes at the 4^th edition of the Forum were to have registered on Athlete365 which is the official community for elite Athletes and Olympians providing support through relevant advice, tools, and services.

‘It will be equally important for current athlete representatives from Oceania to also register if they have not already done so since the online platform offers learning opportunities aside from support in mental health and wellbeing.

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Business Accelerator e-programme for athletes

‘Oceania also committed to fielding a minimum of twenty athletes to complete the Athlete365 Business Accelerator online programme, but our region had 44 athletes complete the course for their personal capacity building.’

This was more than a two-fold increase from the initial projected target.  

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Advocacy and utilisation of funding for athletes

Lelai stated the previous Forum also recommended advocacy toward the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Solidarity Programme consider more financial resources for programming and administrative support to both continental level and national athletes’ commissions.  

Lelai said, ‘The advocacy was completed and now all athletes’ commissions at national level have access to USD10,000 and five National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have successfully applied for this fund on behalf of their athletes and commissions.

‘These are Australia, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.  

‘Aside from this, the ONOC Athletes’ Commission also put out an annual grant of FJD2,000 for all national level athletes’ commissions to apply for toward support for activities - since inception, only the Athletes’ Commissions of Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have utilised this annual grant.’

Lelai emphasised the need for all NOC Athletes’ Commissions to make full use of the grants and opportunities offered by the IOC, Olympic Solidarity Programme, and ONOC Athletes’ Commission.

It was also reported that the ONOC Athletes’ Commission revise its Strategic Plan, and this had been completed, now covering the Commission’s role and mandate.

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Nomination of elite athletes for consideration as IOC Sustainability Ambassadors to improve from Pacific Islands

Some recommendations to be carried forward by upcoming leadership of Oceania athletes will include the advancing of 20 athletes as IOC Sustainability Ambassadors and given the frontline position of the Pacific Islands in the climate crisis, this has significant importance.

Lelai said, ‘The IOC is working with Mike Dawson (NZL) on clean seas projects and Pita Taufatofua (TGA) on plastics projects.’

Lelai is urging Oceania NOCs to nominate athletes and said athletes themselves may self-nominate as long as they are active in environment or sustainability projects in their countries or region.

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LUA RIKIS - PNGOC Athletes' Commission

Lua Rikis discusses her learnings from the 5th Oceania Athletes' Commission - September 2022.

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For more information, please visit the following links:  

For the Oceania National Olympic Committees  
For the ONOC Athletes’ Commission  
For the ONOC Athletes’ Commission Microsite  
For the IOC Athletes’ Commission  
For the Athlete365 hub of resources for all athletes

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CONTACTS

‍For Event Enquiries

Karo Lelai

Chair, ONOC Athletes' Commission
Email: athletescommission@onoc.org.fj

‍For Media Enquiries

Inoke Bainimarama

ONOC Executive Director (Acting) and Chief Communications Officer
Email: inoke@oceanianoc.org