NADI, FIJI – In a regional first, the Oceania Sport Education Program (OSEP) has led the development of the Pacific’s inaugural Chef de Mission (CDM) training curriculum. This groundbreaking initiative - culminating in a five-day workshop held at Nalagi Hotel in Nadi - marks a transformative step forward in how Oceania nations prepare their Games leadership teams ahead of the 2027 Pacific Games and LA2028 Olympics.

The weeklong workshop was held at Nalagi Hotel, Nadi, marking a transformative milestone in Oceania sport leadership development. The five-day intensive workshop (June 9-13) brought together regional experts under OSEP's leadership to create the first Oceania-specific CDM training curriculum, directly strengthening pathways to Olympic excellence ahead of the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti and LA2028 Olympics.

OSEP's workshop delivered critical outcomes that will revolutionize how Oceania nations prepare their Games leadership teams. Participants developed a comprehensive competency framework tailored to Oceania cultural contexts, created evidence-based training modules with integrated assessment tools, and established inclusive delivery methods rooted in adult learning principles. This initiative directly supports ONOC's 2025-28 Strategic Plan Core Functions, particularly strengthening NOC services through enhanced capacity building and training programs for athlete entourage development.

Developers included former and current CDMs from Samoa, Nauru, PNG and Kiribati National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and regional experts in Games operations, athlete services, and sport governance.

Varanisese Karisitiana, Head of OSEP, emphasized the program's transformative impact: "This CDM curriculum represents the evolution of OSEP's mission - from coaching excellence to comprehensive sport leadership development. We've built upon 18 years of community-based education experience to create something that will define how Oceania prepares for Games leadership. This is OSEP delivering on our commitment to advance the entire athlete entourage ecosystem."

OSEP's curriculum development process emphasized Oceania-led excellence, incorporating traditional talanoa (inclusive storytelling) approaches with modern competency-based training methodologies. Key training modules address crisis management, cultural leadership, athlete welfare, sustainability practices, and technology integration - all essential skills for navigating increasingly complex Games environments.

Talemo Waqa, OSEP Mentor, shared “it’s always encouraging to use Local Pacific Experts to come together and develop a curriculum that will assist our next generation of CDM to support our High Performing Athletes in Oceania.”

‍

‍

Workshop participants engaged in intensive role mapping exercises, curriculum walkthroughs, and assessment tool creation. The curriculum integrates cross-cutting themes including gender equality, disability inclusion, and athlete wellbeing - priorities that align with IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020+5 and cultural values of collective care and community support.

Nynette Sass, OSEP Regional Master Educator and former Team Samoa CDM from 2017 to 2021 shared her views on leadership stating “just as we demand excellence from our athletes on the field we must hold our leadership to the same high standards, leading with vision, integrity and unwavering commitment to success”.

The curriculum addresses unique challenges through culturally responsive solutions. Geographic isolation, resource constraints, and the need to balance high-performance culture with traditional Pacific values all influenced curriculum design. Training modules specifically address managing diverse island nation delegations, leveraging extended family support networks, and navigating cultural obligations alongside Games preparation requirements.

The programme provided the foundational framework for this initiative. Since 2017, OSEP has trained over 580 team managers across 15 Pacific island countries, establishing the region's only community-based sport education program among IOC Continental regions. The CDM curriculum extends this success model into Games leadership preparation. The curriculum will undergo piloting across select NOCs around quarter 4, 2025, with the full implementation targeted by mid-2026 in preparation for the Pacific Games.

The CDM curriculum development workshop exemplifies innovation in sport education, creating sustainable capacity building solutions that honor cultural identity while achieving international excellence.  

As Pacific nations prepare for their most significant Games campaigns in decades, this investment in leadership development ensures both athlete success and culturally authentic representation on the world’s biggest sporting stage.