Australia is committed to making Brisbane 2032 (B2032) a ‘home Games’ for all in Oceania.
Speaking at the Inaugural ONOC Brisbane 2032 Conference, themed Step-Up Oceania, Ian Chesterman, President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), said; “We have a fantastic opportunity to drive the benefits of hosting Brisbane 2032 far beyond our borders, bringing the benefits of a ‘home Games’ not just to people across our country, but importantly, to all members of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC)”.
Chesterman continued; “The commitment to Pacific friends to bring them meaningful benefits from hosting a Games in Australia is not a passing thought.”
“It formed part of the Brisbane 2032 bid documents, and is a commitment by all parties – the Australian Federal Government, the Queensland State Government, the Brisbane City Council, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Australian Olympic Committee.
“Indeed it is a commitment to providing high performance training opportunities, international competition and community sports and health programmes for countries within Oceania.”
Chesterman added; “Together we can use the runway to B2032 to make a meaningful difference to the lives of many in the Pacific, and importantly, build a much stronger sport system throughout Oceania in the lead up to the Games, and if we get it right, for many decades after that as well.”
Highlight on the AOC and ONOC at TOKYO 2020
Australia has enjoyed a long, meaningful relationship with the Pacific Islands, this has included sport collaboration and development assistance in the region, which has again included sport partnerships.
Chesterman shared that the AOC was; “delighted to play its role in conjunction with the Australian Government and DFAT [the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] in getting athletes from the Pacific nations to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and we were delighted to work together inside the Olympic Village, in our shared Village building, helping each other out as neighbours, as we have at past Games as well.”
AOC in the upcoming SOL2023 Pacific Games and acknowledging Australians in ONOC leadership
Toward Australian participation at the upcoming Solomon Islands 2023 (SOL2023) Pacific Games, to be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from November 19 to December 2, Chesterman said; “The Australian Olympic Committee is delighted to have been asked to participate and will send a delegation of around 120 people.”
“A number of our archers and boxers are hoping to qualify for Paris 2024, plus other athletes from track and field, and taekwondo, are looking to collect ranking points in their quest to qualify for Paris.
“It also provides an excellent opportunity for some of our younger, emerging athletes to gain international competition experience and we are very pleased that Chair of the ONOC Athletes’ Commission, Olympic gold medallist, Ken Wallace, will lead the Australian delegation to the Solomon Islands as Chef de Mission to the Pacific Games for the second time.”
Chesterman also paid tribute to two Australians who have played an indelible role in ONOC; Kevan Gosper AO, past ONOC President and current President of the Organisation of Sports Federations of Oceania (OSFO), and Helen Brownlee OAM, current Chair of the ONOC Equity Commission.
Article adapted from the ONOC website.