ONOC leaders remind Melanesian athletes to ensure their voices are heard at all levels

April 26, 2023
ONOC
ONOC President, Dr Robin Mitchell and ONOC Secretary General, Ricardo Blas, during the opening of the Melanesian Sub-Regional Athletes’ Forum at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji I Photo: ONOC Comms

Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) President, Dr. Robin Mitchell, opened the Melanesian Sub-Regional Athletes’ Forum by encouraging athlete representatives to work for the best interests of the athletes they represent.

"In terms of today's meeting, I just really want to wish you all the best,” he added.

"COVID has affected the work of the athletes for the past two and a half years."

ONOC President, Dr Robin Mitchell during the opening of the Melanesian Sub-Regional Athletes’ Forum at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji I Photo: ONOC Comms

"So I think it's important that you better mobilise and work within your countries to make sure that your voices are heard, and in particular, that the wishes and aspirations of the athletes become the main focus of what the NOC and also ONOC will do, to help you."

President Mitchell addressed the eight participants from the five Melanesian countries at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji.

With the theme of the forum "Melanesia, Be the Change," Ricardo Blas, Secretary General of ONOC, also reminded the athletes of the important role they have within the respective Athlete Commissions (ACs).

Participants at the opening of the Melanesian Sub-Regional Athletes’ Forum at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi, Fiji I Photo: ONOC Comms

"When you look at all the messages coming from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), President Bach makes it clear that the core of the Olympic movement are the athletes."

"You need to draw on this and take the initiative,” SG Blas reiterated.

“This workshop will engage and guide you on proposed initiatives that we think will work for you on ground."

ONOC is staging the Melanesian Sub-Regional Athletes’ Forum with support from the IOC’s Olympic Solidarity Programme and the ONOC Athletes’ Commission.

The forum commenced this morning and will continue tomorrow until Friday, 28 April with a total of 20 sessions scheduled over the three days.

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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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For Event Enquiries

Sitiveni Tawakevou

Forum Lead and Chief Information Technology Officer
Email: sitiveni@oceanianoc.org  

For Media Enquiries

Shivneel Narayan

Digital Communications Officer
Email: shivneel@oceanianoc.org

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About ONOC 
Established in 1981, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) is one of five Continental Associations. It looks after the interests of 17 member nations in the Oceania Region, including Australia and New Zealand as well as seven associate members. 

ONOC has an office in Guam where Secretary General Mr. Ricardo Blas is based and the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, where the Office of the President Dr Robin Mitchell is located.

All services and-programmes are based on the ONOC Strategic Plan for 2018-2021, and its 4 Core Functions of (1) Building and Strengthening NOCs Capacity (2) Cultivating Strategic Partnerships (3) Contributing towards Sporting Excellence and (4) Leading by Example.

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For more information, please contact;

Shivneel Narayan
Chief Communications Officer (Acting)
shivneel@oceanianoc.org

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