BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Solomon Islands Athletes Commission (SIAC) says valuable lessons and experiences gained from the recent Oceania Athletes Forum in Auckland, New Zealand, will help strengthen athlete support and sports development programs in Solomon Islands.
The clarification and additional details come following SIAC’s response to media questions after an earlier Island Sun story highlighted the participation of Solomon Islands representatives at the regional gathering.
SIAC confirmed that the Oceania Athletes Forum was held from May 21–23, correcting an earlier error in its social media post which had mistakenly stated June.
The commission also confirmed that SIAC Chairman Francis Manioru and Vice Chairlady Esther Yates Pollard represented Solomon Islands at the forum.
According to SIAC, the two representatives gained important knowledge and experience through discussions focused on athlete sports governance, athlete welfare, leadership and regional cooperation among Oceania countries.
“The forum also provided an opportunity to network with other sporting bodies and learn from shared experiences and best practices across the Pacific region,” SIAC stated in its response to Island Sun.
The commission said the experience and knowledge gained from the forum will contribute towards improving athlete representation and creating better opportunities for local athletes.
“SIAC hopes to apply the ideas and strategies discussed to improve athlete representation, capacity building, and opportunities for local athletes to grow and compete at higher levels,” the commission stated.
SIAC also revealed that several important regional discussions during the forum focused on athlete welfare, safeguarding, inclusivity and strengthening cooperation in sports development across the Pacific.
Sharing their reflections on the experience, SIAC leaders described the forum as an important opportunity for learning and building regional sporting connections.
“Attending the Oceania Athletes Forum was a valuable experience for SIAC. It gave us the opportunity to learn, share ideas, and build stronger connections with sporting leaders across the Pacific,” SIAC leaders stated.
“The experience will help us to continue working towards better opportunities and support for athletes in Solomon Islands.”
The forum also allowed participants to attend the 46th ONOC Annual General Assembly as observers alongside other Pacific Island representatives.
Earlier information shared by SIAC noted that one of the major highlights of the forum was a “tok stori” session featuring IOC President Kirsty Coventry and ONOC President Baklai Temengil.
The Oceania Athletes Forum brings together athlete representatives and athlete commissions from countries across the Pacific and Oceania to discuss athlete leadership, governance, welfare and representation in sport. The regional forum is held alongside activities organised by the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC).
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