The South Pacific Edition brings together delegation leaders from the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. It follows the North Pacific Edition delivered in Palau from 10 to 14 August, completing the regional roll-out of the course.

ONOC Executive Director Inoke Bainimarama opened the course and set out what ONOC expects from it.

"This is more than a course. It is the beginning of a coordinated LA28 readiness journey," he said.

Bainimarama told participants the Chef de Mission role extends well beyond Games time. "You are not simply leading a delegation at Games time. You are responsible for bringing together the many different parts of an NOC's Games operation so that, when our athletes arrive in Los Angeles, they can focus on what they are there to do."

‍

‍

The course builds on a pathway that began with the pilot Chef de Mission programme delivered in Nadi and the new CdM curriculum developed to prepare Oceania for Games leadership.

The programme moves through four days of structured work. Participants opened by assessing where their NOC currently stands on LA28 readiness and reviewing their Games Delivery Plan, covering objectives, governance, responsibilities, timelines, gaps and risks. Tuesday covers operational detail: accreditation, travel, accommodation, transport, uniforms, equipment, finance and logistics. Wednesday turns to the environment around athletes, including welfare and performance support, medical services, safeguarding, communications, protocol and crisis management. By Thursday, participants are expected to consolidate that work into a strengthened Games Delivery Plan and an LA28 implementation roadmap.

The course is facilitated by OSEP Mentors Talemo Waqa and Nynette Sass, and Master Educator Jane Niubalavu.

Bainimarama was direct about what happens after the certificates are issued. "Attending a course and receiving a certificate cannot be the end point," he said. "The real measure of this programme will be what happens when you return home, whether the plans are used, whether responsibilities are understood, whether gaps are addressed."

‍

‍

He also confirmed the course is the first Chef de Mission programme of its kind delivered for a Continental Association. It was previewed at the Oceania Forum delivered by the IOC Games Department in Auckland in May, alongside the ONOC Annual General Assembly.

The Nadi course sits within a wider Games Support approach ONOC is building through its Games Commission, which brings Games knowledge from across the region together and identifies shared operational challenges earlier. The work is tied to the ONOC Strategic Plan 2025-2028, which places athletes at the heart of sustainable success and commits ONOC to strengthening NOC capability.

"Los Angeles 2028 may still appear some distance away," Bainimarama said. "But successful Games delivery does not begin when the team arrives in the Village. It begins now."

The course closes on Thursday, 27 August.

At its heart, the OSEP Chef de Mission Course reflects ONOC's commitment to the athletes of Oceania. By strengthening the capability of Chefs de Mission, ONOC is helping ensure that athletes are supported by well-prepared and effectively led teams—creating an environment in which they can focus on their performance, realise their potential and be the best versions of themselves.

Related releases

• New CdM curriculum sets Oceania on path to Games leadership excellence
• OSEP pilots Chef de Mission training programme in Nadi