The Oceania National Olympic Committees’ (ONOC) convened a historic meeting with South-East Queensland universities on 7 September, as part of the “Home Games Advantage Initiative” under the ONOC Brisbane 2032 banner.
In his opening address, Dr. Mitchell articulated the gravity of this occasion, emphasising that it represents the first in a series of engagements with the university sector. He underscored ONOC’s pivotal role as the continental body of the International Olympic Committee in Oceania, overseeing the interests of 17 member nations from the Pacific Region.
The ONOC President’s address not only set the stage for a transformative journey but also underscored ONOC’s profound commitment to shaping a legacy that transcends sport and leaves an indelible mark on the entire Oceania region, creating a brighter future for generations to come.
Dr. Mitchell highlighted the unwavering support for Brisbane 2032 from influential leaders, including the Australian Prime Minister, the Queensland Premier, and the President of the Australian Olympic Committee.
“The draft Queensland Government’s Legacy Plan outlines a commitment to creating sustainable benefits for the Oceania Region,” noted Dr. Mitchell. “With these intentions, Brisbane 2032 has the true potential to make a tangible mark in human legacy for the entire Oceania region.”
Looking beyond mere inspiration, Dr. Mitchell envisioned Brisbane 2032 as a catalyst for proactively building capacity, strengthening relationships, and generating sustainable positive change throughout the region, with a legacy that extends far beyond the year 2032.
“To help mobilise this vision, ONOC is leading the ‘Home Games Advantage’ initiative, providing a unique opportunity to strengthen strategic relationships with partners across Oceania,” Dr. Mitchell stated. “This initiative is already yielding results, with the strengthening of our partnership with the Oceania Paralympic Committee, recognising the potential for legacies across both Olympic and Paralympic sport.”
Dr. Mitchell highlighted the successful ‘Step Up’ Oceania inaugural conference held in Brisbane earlier this year and the subsequent Oceania Sport and Sustainable Development Goals Strategic Partners Forum as examples of the transformative partnerships forged by the Brisbane 2032 Games.
Regarding collaboration with universities, Dr. Mitchell pointed to ONOC’s longstanding partnership with the University of the South Pacific and outlined various initiatives aimed at enhancing sport education, research, and sustainable development in the region.
“We are excited to establish formal relationships with universities in South East Queensland as we work towards Brisbane 2032,” Dr. Mitchell affirmed. “The scope for partnership activities, exchanges, and collaboration is promising, and the ONOC team eagerly anticipates the next nine years of collaboration.”
Dr. Mitchell also provided insight into ONOC’s strategic direction, with a focus on the major sporting events leading up to Brisbane 2032, beginning with the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands and extending to various regional and international sporting competitions.
In conclusion, Dr. Mitchell emphasised the need to envision a strategic action plan that goes beyond the current Olympiad, ensuring Pacific athletes achieve unprecedented success. He underscored ONOC’s commitment to strengthening partnerships within the regional and international sporting eco-system, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The meeting served as a platform to explore specific areas of collaboration between ONOC and South East Queensland Universities, marking a significant step in ONOC’s Home Games Advantage initiative.
Amidst the anticipation of the forthcoming Brisbane 2032 Games, declared as a resounding “Bid from Oceania,” this landmark event marks the initiation of a dynamic and enduring partnership between ONOC and the academic institutions of South-East Queensland.
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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