Oceania National Olympic Committees and Oceania Sports Federations Annual Conference - 2025 GUAM
This conference is important because it allows the OTU and others sports to connect and collaborate with Pacific Sport Federations, National Olympic Committees, the Pacific Games Council, the Oceania Paralympic Committee, Oceania Commonwealth Games Federation and National University Sport Federations.
The IOC staff are also present as is the IOC President Thomas Bach. We are all working together to bring more sports opportunities to the Oceania region.
When interviewed about the conference and its outcomes, OTU’s President John Kotsifas stated:
“The Annual General Assembly represents a crucial moment for Oceania’s Olympic movement, as leaders and stakeholders collaborate to shape the future of sports in the region. The OTU is part of this process and by working closely with Oceania National Olympic Committees we have been successful in promoting all of our 19 member nations and their active contribution to the development of Taekwondo in Oceania.”
President Kotsifas also stated:
“The feedback we have received from each national Olympic Committee at this conference about their relationship with our Taekwondo member nations has been encouraging and very positive. There is now a real interest and commitment by the Olympic Committees to support our member nations and to assist them through targeted Olympic solidarity
funds for specific projects. They have seen what we did in qualifying so many athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games and there is great interest in our programs”.
According to the IOC, whilst Olympic participation and medal success at international events and Olympic games was important for any sporting nation, it was not the only measure of progress or success for many sports in the Oceania region.
This point was made clear by the IOC who addressed the Oceania Sports Federations forum, and who emphasised the primary importance of the Pacific Games and Oceania championships as being a better measure of success and development in Oceania.
Key conference outcomes for OTU
Pacific Games – More events and medals for pacific nations in 2027 in Tahiti with the inclusion of Para-athletes and possibly, Para Poomsae.
The inclusion of para and para poomsae is strongly supported by the Oceania Paralympic Committee and the Australian Paralympic
Committee.
Australia’s and New Zealand’s participation at the Pacific Games will continue but will be further reduced to reflect their status as invited guests at the Pacific Games.
From 8 male and female weight divisions, 6 male and 6 female weight categories will exclude Aus and NZ athletes allowing more Pacific Island athletes to achieve medals and the title of Pacific Champion.
Para Athletes – OTU’s para development programs were applauded by many international speakers at the conference.
Paul Bird, President of the Oceania Paralympic Committee addressed the Oceania Sports Federations conference and highlighted the success of Para Taekwondo and promoted it as a model for other Oceania Olympic Committees to follow.
The President committed to providing the OTU and its para-athletes with further support for the 2027 Pacific Games, and the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.
That support includes Oceania and overseas training camps and direct financial support to attend competition events.
IOC Olympic Solidarity Funding – The IOC’s Head of Sport Development for Oceania, Ms Sheila Stephens Desbans, spoke about the IOC funding model which provides funds to Oceania Olympic committees for training, camps, competition attendance and education of officials and coaches.
She particularly highlighted and applauded the OTU’s Taekwondo camp that was held in Solomon Islands in early 2004 and how important this was for getting athletes prepared for the Oceania Olympic selection event a few months later.
The OTU have undertaken to send the IOC its schedule of camps and competitions between now and 2032 and to highlight the funding and athlete support we require for further development.
PacificAus Sports – The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports, supports Pacific athletes in their pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic dreams. This program, part of the sports diplomacy initiative, helps athletes from 13 Pacific nations prepare for major international events, including the Olympics and Paralympics.
We have had beneficial discussions with PacificAus sports representatives who have indicatedtheir support for making funds available for pacific athletes including para-athletes to attend thefollowing events in 2025:
- Presidents cup – Gold Coast
- Australian Open – Gold Coast
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- Oceania Championships – Tahiti
