The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) has launched the Queensland Cohort of a new University Alliance, a formal collaboration with nine universities across Queensland.

The initiative is part of the ONOC’s “Home Games Advantage” Programme which encompasses Olympic and Paralympic sports in partnership with the Oceania Paralympic Committee and sport stakeholders across the Oceania region.  

ONOC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with nine Queensland universities with the aim of strengthening high performance and sustainable development for Pacific Island nations in and through sport as direct interventions and legacies of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The ONOC University Alliance is intended to bolster technical capabilities in key areas to further stimulate and strengthen the sport sector in the Pacific, and optimise the performances of Pacific athletes across Olympic and Paralympic sports at Brisbane 2032.  

ONOC President, Dr Robin Mitchell, said the new alliance would change the game for the sport sector in the Pacific by addressing critical gaps in workforce development, research and innovation, learning and teaching, and build the evidence base specific to the Pacific to underpin sport and sport science.

“This is new partnership mechanism for ONOC; connecting with universities, beginning with Queensland but extending across the Pacific Islands and to New Zealand.

“This partnership will leverage the latest thinking and innovations designed with and for our region; creating lasting legacies for Pacific Islanders that will endure well beyond the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Dr Mitchell said.  

ONOC Home Games Advantage Programme Lead, Mr Atma Maharaj, said that this (the partnership) was a monumental step for ONOC creating a formal partnership with university partners in Oceania like never before.

“It paves the way for enhanced sporting exchanges between Queensland and the Pacific Islands, advancing high performance for Brisbane 2032. It will build capacity across the sports sector, bringing lasting benefits to Pacific Islanders,” Mr Maharaj added.

Queensland is the first ONOC University Alliance cohort that includes: Australian Catholic University, Bond University, CQUniversity Australia, Griffith University, James Cook University, Queensland University of Technology, The University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland, and University of the Sunshine Coast.

The areas of collaboration captured under the Memorandum of Understanding include:

1. Scholarships for Pacific athletes, entourage and sport sector workforce  

2. Knowledge sharing, capacity building, programme design and technical assistance towards agreed strategic actions  

3. Access to, and where possible, in-kind use of facilities, high performance centres, coaches, sport science services, and accommodation

4. Academic exchanges and work placements for staff, students, athletes and entourage

5. Learning and teaching to strengthen the Pacific Sport Workforce

6. Foster opportunities for collaborative sport-related research and co-authored publications

7. Joint advocacy with ONOC towards Home Games Advantage strategic actions

8. Innovation and North-South collaborations towards Brisbane 2032 legacies

So far, nine universities from Queensland have held three meetings in Brisbane. In March 2024, they expanded their collaboration by joining the Pacific Islands cohort with, which included representatives from Fiji National University, National University of Samoa, Solomon Islands National University, National University of Vanuatu, Tonga National University, and The University of the South Pacific.

The ONOC University Alliance is the inaugural University partnership under the ONOC Home Games Advantage Programme, an initiative that was launched in Suva, Fiji, ten years ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With less than eight years remaining until the Opening Ceremony, the ONOC University Alliance paves the way for a set of strategic, evidence-informed actions designed to enhance the performances of Pacific athletes at the 2032 Games, and transform the sport sector in the Pacific well beyond 2032.

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Names in the Photo

Back (L-R): Aarron Bowden, Business Manager, Sport, Student Services and Wellbeing, Queensland University of Technology; Professor Fabio Serpiello, Director Sport Strategy, CQUniversity Australia; Associate Professor Geoff Minett, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology; Professor Stephen P. Bird, Director of High-Performance Sport, School of Health and Medical Sciences, University Of Southern Queensland; Professor Bruce Abernethy, Executive Director – 2032 Games Engagement, University of Queensland; Mark Brown, Clinic Coordinator, Allied Health Clinics, Australian Catholic University; Professor Andy Stewart, Dean - the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University; Professor John Cairney, Head of School – Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences and Deputy Executive Director – Office of 2032 Games Engagement, University of Queensland; Matthew Pink, Head, Australian Catholic University Engagement;  Alex Elibank Murray, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global and Engagement), University of the Sunshine Coast

Front (L-R): Atma Maharaj, Lead – ONOC Home Games Advantage Programme; Kathleen Newcombe, Chief Executive Officer, James Cook University, Brisbane; Professor Bronwyn Harch, Vice President Industry and External Engagement, Griffith University; Lisa Gowthorp, Associate Dean, External Engagement Bond Business School, Bond University; Dr Robin Mitchell, President of ONOC; Dr Caroline Riot, Director Games Engagement and Partnerships, Griffith University; Catherine Marks, Vice President Engagement, Bond University; Jackie Lauff, ONOC Home Games Advantage Programme; Andrew Minogue, CEO, Pacific Games Council (ONOC Working Group)

For more information, please visit the following links:

International Olympic Committee

Oceania Paralympic Committee

ONOC Home Games Advantage initiative South-East Queensland University Engagement

Australia is a dependable partner for Oceania sport: ONOC call to action

Chesterman reaffirms Australia’s commitment to Oceania sport

ONOC announces Pacific call to action to BRISBANE 2032

ONOC and OPC Strengthen Partnership through MOU Signing in the Pacific

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