ONOC - Oceania National Olympic Committees

𝙋𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙪𝙜𝙗𝙮 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 🏉 We're proud to highlight Oceania Rugby's transformative work in expanding the Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA), which is creating meaningful pathways for women in rugby leadership across our Pacific region and beyond. Since 2023, Oceania Rugby's commitment to this groundbreaking initiative has supported 32 female coaches across both 7s and 15s formats. Now, building on this regional success, the programme is expanding to include seven new nations in the HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 programme, demonstrating Oceania Rugby's growing influence in advancing gender equality within global rugby governance. The impact of Oceania Rugby's development pathway is already evident through success stories like Crystal Kaua, whose journey through regional development programs led to her role in New Zealand's gold medal-winning coaching staff at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and ultimately to making history as the first woman to coach Brazil's women's sevens team. Oceania Rugby's leadership in this programme exemplifies the principles of Olympic Agenda 2020+5, particularly in advancing gender equality and creating substantive opportunities for women in sports leadership. Their initiatives reflect our shared Olympic values of excellence and respect, while building tangible career pathways in high-performance coaching and management for Pacific women. As Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 approaches—promoted as "the most accessible tournament yet"—Oceania Rugby's continued investment in coaching development will ensure strong representation from our region on the world stage. This sustained commitment to women's high-performance development not only strengthens rugby across the Pacific but contributes significantly to broader gender equity goals across the Olympic movement in our region. MORE ON THIS STORY ⬇️ https://loom.ly/ivGjIk8 #WomenInSport #OlympicValues #RugbySevens #GenderEquality #OceaniaRugby #ONOC #SportsDevelopment #WomenInLeadership #PacificSports

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: LOLOHEA NAITASI - FIJI'S 17-YEAR-OLD OLYMPIC PIONEER 🇫🇯🥋 "I loved the support from the Oceania family, and it was an incredible experience." 🥰 When 17-year-old Lolohea Navuga Naitasi stepped onto the mat at the Grand Palais during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she wasn't just competing in the women's 67kg Taekwondo event—she was making history. ✨ Alongside teammate Venice Elizabeth Megan Traill, Naitasi became one of the first Fijian Taekwondo athletes ever to compete at the Olympic Games, a journey that began with her silver medal win 🥈 at the Olympic Qualification event in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Despite her nerves as one of Team Fiji's youngest athletes, the unexpected vocal support from the crowd transformed her experience: "I was nervous as soon as I entered the mat, but when I heard the cheering and support, I told myself to just enjoy it and give my best." 💪 Her coach, Master Sanghyun Ra, had been with her since the Pacific Games journey, reminding her to "have fun out there" 🙌—advice that helped her embrace the momentous occasion, which she called "the greatest match I've ever had in my whole career." Beyond the competition itself, Naitasi cherished meeting new people in the Olympic Village 🏠 and has this advice for young athletes back home: "If you love a sport, grab every opportunity and don't let anything hold you back." 💯 As we look back at Paris 2024, ONOC celebrates pioneers like Lolohea who continue to break new ground for Oceania sports on the world stage, showing that age is no barrier to Olympic dreams. 🌟 📰 This story was originally reported by Sereana Salalo for PACNEWS as part of the Paris 2024 Project, a collaborative media initiative between ONOC and the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC). #TeamFiji #OlympicTaekwondo #OceaniaExcellence #Paris2024 #ONOC #YouthInSports #WarriorsOfOceania

🌏 Enhancing Athlete Performance Across the Oceania Region! 🌟 The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) has just launched the VALD Systems Testing Workshop in Nadi, Fiji! This 4-day workshop is designed to equip Strength & Conditioning Coaches with cutting-edge tools and data-driven insights to optimize training and performance, ultimately preparing them for future Games. The workshop focuses on: ✅ Innovation in Athlete Development ✅ Building Technical Capacity for Coaches ✅ Advancing Evidence-Based Decision Making ✅ Personalized Training Protocols ✅ Long-Term Athlete Monitoring A special thank you to Kim Wilson, the expert physiotherapist and Business Development Manager at VALD, for leading the sessions and helping shape the future of Oceania sport. READ THE FULL RELEASE ⬇️ https://loom.ly/cptG430 #ONOC #OSEP #OceaniaSport #VALDSystems #HighPerformance #Olympics #AthleteSuccess #InnovativeTraining #TechInSport #OceaniaAthletes

🎯 Milestone Achievement: Oceania Weightlifting Institute Launches in Samoa We're proud to announce the inauguration of the Oceania Institute and Academy for Weightlifting at Samoa's Tuana'imato Sports Complex - a groundbreaking development that positions our region as a global center of excellence in weightlifting. This state-of-the-art facility, one of only five continental centers worldwide, represents a strategic collaboration between: ● International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ● Samoa Government ● Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation ● Samoa Weightlifting Federation ● Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) The institute is already attracting international attention, with Olympic hopefuls from Uganda and Canada choosing it as their preparation venue. This validates our vision of creating a world-class training environment that serves both regional and global athletic communities. Special thanks to Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa for officiating the opening, and to IWF President Dr Mohammed Jalood for joining us on this momentous occasion. This development builds on our region's proud weightlifting legacy, exemplified by champions like Ele Opeloge, and the dedicated leadership of Paul Coffa and Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork. Looking ahead, the institute will play a crucial role in: ● Developing high-performance athletes ● Training technical officials ● Hosting international competitions ● Creating pathways for Pacific sports excellence READ MORE ⬇️ https://loom.ly/FjAeuE4 #SportsDevelopment #WeightliftingExcellence #PacificSports #HighPerformance #OlympicSports #TeamOceania

🇬🇺🤝🇯🇵 Historic Educational Partnership Established Between Guam and Japan The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) celebrates the signing of a landmark agreement between Jose Rios Middle School (Guam) and Chikujo Town Schools (Japan). This pioneering collaboration, the first of its kind, emphasizes cultural exchange, joint educational programs, and fostering global citizenship among students. MORE ON THIS PARTNERSHIP ⬇️ https://loom.ly/w8eVD5M

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐎𝐀𝐅 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 The Oceania Australia Foundation (OAF) continues to demonstrate its vital role in Pacific athlete development, with an exceptional showcase of talent at the Bearcat Invite hosted by Northwest Missouri State University. The performances underscore the foundation's strategic mission of creating educational and athletic pathways through U.S. collegiate opportunities. 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙-𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 The meet witnessed multiple national records from OAF scholarship recipients: 🇫🇯 Rusiate Matai (Fiji) Cleared 2.10m in High Jump New Indoor & All-Conditions National Records Ranked #2 in NJCAA 🇹🇻 Vaioleta Luka (Tuvalu) New National Record in 60m (8.43s) Matched National Record in 200m Raising standards for Tuvaluan athletics 🇫🇯 Waisale Inoke (Fiji) New Indoor Heptathlon National Record (4,410 points) Ranked #12 in NJCAA Exceptional multi-event performance 🇫🇯 Melania Turaga (Fiji) School Record in women's 800m (2:25.78) Led DMR team to #16 NJCAA ranking Outstanding middle-distance achievement 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 The broader success of OAF scholars extended beyond individual achievements: • Collective personal bests across 600m and 800m events • Strong DMR performances positioning teams nationally • Enhanced competitive depth in multiple disciplines 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙊𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 These performances align with OAF's core objectives: 1️⃣ Educational Excellence • Supporting academic achievement alongside athletic development • Creating sustainable pathways for Pacific athletes • Building future leaders in sport and community 2️⃣ High-Performance Development • Facilitating access to quality coaching and facilities • Enabling competition at collegiate level • Supporting progression toward international standards 3️⃣ Regional Impact • Raising performance standards across Oceania • Creating role models for next generation athletes • Strengthening Pacific presence in international athletics 𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 As the OAF scholarship program continues to evolve, these achievements serve as testament to: • The depth of talent within the Pacific region • The importance of educational opportunities for athletes • The success of strategic investment in sporting pathways • The potential for continued growth and development The OAF scholarship program remains committed to bridging the gap between academic and athletic excellence, creating opportunities that transform lives and elevate Pacific sports on the global stage. #OceaniaOlympics #PacificSports #AthleteEducation #SportDevelopment #OceaniaAustraliaFoundation

📚 Calling all Pacific sports enthusiasts! The 2025 Pacific Regional Sports Research Scholarship is now open! 🎓 Partner with USP and ONOC to pursue your Master's degree in sports-focused research across: • Economics • Social Impact • Physical Education 💫 What you'll get: • Full tuition coverage • FJD21,600 living allowance • Research grant • Book allowance • Plus additional benefits for qualifying candidates ✅ You're eligible if you: • Are a USP member country citizen • Have a GPA of 3.0 or above • Are preferably 40 years or younger ⏰ Don't miss out! Applications close February 28, 2025 📧 Apply now: pgrscholarships@usp.ac.fj Learn more: https://loom.ly/l9GWuj4

As a member of the Oceania Impact Network, ONOC was honored to participate in the response panel during the launch of this report. Varanisese Logavatu Karisitiana shared insights on ONOC and the Olympic Movement's commitment to gender equality, equity and women leaders in sport. #OceaniaImpactNetwork #EquityCommission #WomenInSports #StrongerTogether #ONOC

A Historic Winter Olympic Milestone for Oceania! 🎿❄️ What a proud moment as we witness another barrier broken in winter sports! Congratulations to the Australian Olympic Committee (@Australian Olympic Committee) on this remarkable achievement - Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt becoming Australia's first-ever Olympic curlers, qualifying for Milano Cortina 2026. This qualification isn't just a milestone for Australia - it's a beacon of possibility for aspiring winter sports athletes across our entire Oceania region. As we look toward Milano Cortina 2026, achievements like this remind us that geographic boundaries need not limit Olympic dreams. The dedication of athletes like Tahli and Dean, supported by robust sporting programs and visionary leadership, proves that excellence in winter sports knows no borders. Congratulations to @TeamAUS, Curling Australia, and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia on making history! #TeamOceania #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics #SportsDevelopment #OlympicMovement

Pacific Island Nations Encouraged to Participate in School Sport Australia Games 2025 The Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) are pleased to invite all National Olympic Committees (NOCs), National Sports Federations, and School-Based Associations across the Pacific to seize the opportunity to participate in the second edition of the 2025 School Sport Australia Games (SSAG02). Building on the success of the inaugural games in 2024, where Fiji was represented by 51 and the Cook Islands by 9 talented swimmers, School Sport Australia (SSA) has extended a formal invitation to all Pacific Island nations to join the 2025 edition of this prestigious multi-sport event. This offers young athletes an invaluable opportunity for international competition and development, helping them progress towards future milestones, including the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. MORE INFO ⬇️ https://loom.ly/dFEGEN4