23 September 2026- Aichi-Nagoya, Japan | Attending at the invitation of the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President Temengil engaged with senior Olympic Movement leaders, Continental Associations, International Federations and National Olympic Committees to strengthen relationships and explore opportunities that support the development of sport across Oceania.

The engagements align with the ONOC Strategic Plan 2025–2028, particularly its core function of Cultivating Strategic Partnerships, which recognises the importance of collaboration in supporting sporting excellence, strengthening National Olympic Committees and creating greater opportunities for athletes across the region.

Strengthening Relationships Across the Olympic Movement

During her visit, President Temengil met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry and IOC Director James Macleod, providing an update on the ongoing ONOC Reset, including organisational developments and key activities being undertaken to strengthen ONOC’s governance, operations and delivery across the region. The meeting provided an opportunity to reinforce ONOC’s relationship with the IOC and its continued commitment to supporting the Olympic Movement across Oceania. President Temengil also met with senior leaders from the Olympic Council of Asia, including Sheikh Faisal Ahmed Ali Al-Thani, Head of the President’s Office and Director of International Relations, and Seiko Hashimoto, President of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

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Engagements with fellow Continental Association Presidents Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), and Spyros Capralos, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), provided further opportunities to strengthen cooperation and exchange perspectives on shared priorities across the Olympic Movement. President Temengil also attended ANOCA’s Extraordinary General Assembly, where she delivered brief remarks at the opening.

Expanding Partnerships for Sport Development

As part of ONOC’s strategic focus on partnerships, President Temengil engaged with International Federation leaders, including Mohamed Hasan Jalood, President of the International Weightlifting Federation; Fabio Azevedo, President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB); and Hugh Graham, Secretary General of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and President of the Oceania Volleyball Zone. She also reconnected with Gunilla Lindberg, Secretary General of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and met with sports leaders from National Olympic Committees and International Federations across Asia and Africa.

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These engagements provided opportunities to explore future cooperation, technical exchanges, athlete development pathways and programmes that could contribute to strengthening sport across Oceania.

For ONOC, international partnerships are an important mechanism for connecting the region’s National Olympic Committees and sporting organisations with expertise, resources and opportunities within the wider Olympic Movement.

President Temengil highlighted the importance of ensuring that these relationships deliver meaningful benefits for ONOC’s members.

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“Our partnerships across the Olympic Movement are important to the future of sport in Oceania. Through these relationships, we can connect our National Olympic Committees, athletes and coaches with greater opportunities for development, knowledge exchange and international cooperation.

“Our focus is on ensuring that these engagements translate into meaningful opportunities for our members and contribute to the long-term development of sport across our region.”

Advancing the ONOC–Fukuoka Partnership

President Temengil also met with representatives of Fukuoka Prefecture, including Executive Director Hironobu Takashi, to discuss progress under the existing Memorandum of Understanding between ONOC and Fukuoka.

The partnership focuses on sports training, talent identification and athlete development opportunities, providing a platform for further collaboration between Oceania and Japan.

The meeting reinforced ONOC’s commitment to translating international relationships into practical programmes and development opportunities that benefit athletes and sporting organisations across the region.

The ONOC–Fukuoka collaboration also demonstrates how strategic partnerships can support ONOC’s broader objectives of strengthening sporting excellence and expanding development pathways for athletes and coaches.

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Partnerships That Deliver for Oceania

President Temengil’s engagements at the Asian Games reflect ONOC’s broader strategic direction of building and maintaining meaningful partnerships across the Olympic Movement.

The ONOC Strategic Plan 2025–2028 identifies Cultivating Strategic Partnerships as one of its four core functions, alongside Supporting Sporting Excellence, Strengthening NOC Services and Leading by Example.

Through stronger relationships with the IOC, Continental Associations, International Federations, National Olympic Committees and other strategic partners, ONOC seeks to expand opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and sport development.

These efforts contribute to ONOC’s shared vision of an empowered and innovative sport ecosystem in Oceania, where athletes are at the heart of sustainable success.

As the region looks towards Brisbane 2032 and beyond, ONOC remains committed to ensuring that its international partnerships contribute to strengthening the capacity of its member National Olympic Committees and creating greater opportunities for Oceania’s athletes and coaches to develop and succeed.

With the 20th Asian Games continuing in Aichi-Nagoya until 4 October 2026, ONOC extends its best wishes to the Olympic Council of Asia, the Aichi-Nagoya Organising Committee, the Japanese Olympic Committee and all participating National Olympic Committees and athletes for a successful and memorable Games.