Creative Communication Key For FAC

Being creative in how athlete representatives from around the Oceania Region communicate with each other is one of several challenges that the Fiji Athletes Commission hopes to address for the future.

Recently, Fiji hosted the 5th Oceania Athletes’ Forum (OAF) in Pacific Harbour, Fiji where several issues pertaining to athletes welfare and rights were discussed.

Olympian Matelita Buadromo and shooter Quintyn Stephen represented Fiji athletes during the three-day forum.

Quintyn said the forum was very informative and was refreshing to hear from other athlete reps about their views on certain issues that affect athletes.

"One of the biggest learning curves for us was understanding that most of our challenges and threats are similar to our colleagues in the region as are the opportunities," he said.

"Because of this we feel that we need to network and communicate better with each other as athlete reps."

Quintyn said athlete representatives from National Olympic Committees of Oceania discussed the importance of athlete rights and responsibilities, safeguarding, sport integrity, and advancing human rights in sport at the 5th Oceania Athletes’ Forum.

"There was a lot discussed and now the onus is on us as members of FASANOC's Athletes Commission to disseminate that information to all our members which will be a challenge," he said.

Quintyn said it was also important that athletes know who their reps are and what they are able to do for them.

"One of our functions is to ensure that a suitable and effective range of services exists to support athletes lives during and beyond Games time and competitive sport,as well as supporting athletes to achieving success" he said.

Quintyn said in this context the Athletes Commission may also seek assistance and provide the FASANOC Board on matters within its scope which includes support and advice; offeringopinions; making recommendations; consultation; and information or notice on relative topics.

The establishment of an Athletes Commission (AC) is a requirement of the Olympic Charter and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidelines for National Olympic Committees (NOC).

The Fiji Athletes Commission (FAC) was established by FASANOC in 2003 to promote and protect the interests of Fiji's national sporting athletes with one of its functions being to represent the views and concerns of athletes to the FASANOC Executive Board (EB) and to promote athlete involvement in decision-making at all levels.

FAC’s mission statement is to create a healthy and conducive environment for holistic growth of athletes where their best interests are always at heart and its purpose is to create a safe space for athletes to know their rights and work with FASANOC and the National Federations (NF) to promote Safe Sport.

FAC promotes athlete involvement through advocating the benefits of athlete involvement in FASANOC and NF decision-making, and to specifically advocate on the FAC’s learning and support other FASANOC Commissions in advocating their learning as well as empower athlete representation through athlete representatives on the Executive Boards (EB) of NFs.

The FAC is comprised of an EB and various FAC NF representatives and includes eight members, three of whom will commence at the conclusion of each Pacific Games with at least one (1) member of the FAC EB being a Para Athlete.

The Chair of the FAC EB alternates between a male and female every term as it strives for gender equality in its composition.

The FAC Chair is a current rep in the sport of chess, Hilda Kunau.

To be eligible for election or appointment to the FAC a person must:

• Have represented Fiji at local, regional or international level in a sport;

• Have left the sport for eight years or less;

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Be endorsed by their NF;

• Have not been convicted of a felony;

• Have not been sanctioned for a doping offence in their sporting career.

Reporting to athletes at the 5th Oceania Athletes’ Forum (OAF)current Chair of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Athletes Commission, Karo Lelai of Papua New Guinea said, ‘The 2019 Forum athletes put forward a set of fifteen recommendations to be pursued over the next four years with a biennial Forum at mid-term’.

‘Despite the coronavirus pandemic the following year and halting the world until about last year and in some places this year too, there is much that has been accomplished.

She said, this included the ‘The Olympic Movement’s Declaration of Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities being adopted by the ONOC Athletes’ Commission and endorsed by the ONOC Executive Board.’

Lelai stated, ‘All participating athletes at the 4th edition of the Forum needed to have registered on Athlete365 which is the official community for elite Athletes and Olympians providing support through relevant advice, tools, and services.

‘It will be equally important for current athlete representatives from Oceania to also register if they have not already done so since the online platform offers learning opportunities aside from support in mental health and wellbeing.

A complete outcome of statement of the forum will be shared later by ONOC through their website ac.oceanianoc.org/

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Pics: ONOC

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