Saturday 20th April in Nadi the Fiji base of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), the body who oversees the Olympic movement in the Pacific, hosted their Annual Assembly. Our own Robin Mitchell, current ONOC President, was re-elected into this prestigious position for another four-year term. Barry Maister, IOC member in New Zealand and current ONOC Vice President was also re-elected.

Prior to the election, the Merit Awards were presented by ONOC. Recognised for their exceptional service to the organisation were, Ken Tupua from American Samoa and Joe Carlo from Vanuatu.

Election for the Secretary General, the position held by Guam’s Ricardo Blas for the last four years, had three candidates. Each gave a three-minute address to the audience about what they could bring to the position. Sir John Dawanincura, NOC (National Olympic Committee) President from Papua New Guinea spoke of his desire to focus on the athletes being central to the focus of ONOC’s work. Takitoa Taumoepeau, NOC Secretary General from Tonga, spoke of the importance of maintaining professionalism as part of the role. Finally, Ricardo Blas reflected on the last four years and his desire to continue on and lead successfully into the future. Blas received a majority in the first round of votes and therefore was elected to the position of Secretary General of ONOC for the next four years.

The other newly-elected members of the Executive for 2013 – 2016 are:

Baklai Temengil – Palau NOC Secretary General

James Tobin – FSM NOC Secretary General

Craig Phillips – Australian NOC Secretary General

Ken Tupua – American Samoa

IOC Members in Australia John Coates and Kevan Gosper and IOC Member in New Zealand Barbara Kendall round off the membership of the Executive Board.

Delegates listened to a full day of presentations, including the International Olympic Committee, past and future Olympic Games and the large number of sport and education programs coordinated and run by the key stakeholders of sport in Oceania. Presenters spoke of their desire to work together and develop the infrastructures of sport to enable the maximum benefits to be achieved for the people of the Pacific.

Manihiki sailor Taua Elisa has picked top honours at the annual sports awards where he was named sportsman of the year for the second year running. 2012 proved to be the biggest of Elisa’s career to date. He and fellow sailor Helema Williams pursued their ‘Olympic Dream’ right through to the final opportunity of qualification chasing the places in competition that they would need to achieve their goal – representation of the Cook Islands at the London Olympics. To reproduce these sea and weather conditions in the Cook Islands was impossible so that the need to compete overseas and particularly in Weymouth, the site of the Olympic sailing competition, were essential.

Another nine months of total commitment to the goal meant relocating to Europe, and in between very challenging training sessions on water and in the gym to prepare for the final qualifying competition – the Olympic Qualifying Regatta – Kiel Week in Germany. While Elisa did not achieve his goal this time around, Sailing Cook Islands recommended Elisa for the award based on his staunch attitude and total commitment to achieving his goal. He worked through his personal disappointment to support Helema Williams through the last tough month towards the Olympic Regatta, as her training partner both on and off the water.

Elisa also picked up the 2012 fair play award as well as the 2012 Purapura Zone sportsman of the year award. Fellow sailor Helema Williams picked up the 2012 Purapura Zone sportswoman of the year award.

Sprinter Patricia Taea picked up the prestigious 2012 sportswoman of the year award. Taea is the top female sprinter in the Cook Islands and holds the record for 100 metres (12.44) and she also holds the Cook Islands new record in the 60 metres indoor dash (8.06) that was held in Turkey in January 2012. She ran in the 100 meters in Cairns with a personal best time of 12.47 and won a gold medal in javelin and a silver medal in long jump. From these performances Taea was named and confirmed to represent the Cook Islands in the 100 meters in the Olympics London. Taea also picked up the sports achievement award.

Fellow athlete Alex Beddoes snapped up the 2012 junior sportsman award for his rise in the athletics world while the islands most recognised all round athlete Teiti Tupuna was crowned 2012 junior sportswoman of the year.

2012 team of the year went to the Titikaveka Pearls premier grade netball team for their outstanding clean sweep on the courts that year to retain their championship title – a title the team has held for over a decade.

The awards evening was held at the Edgewater Resort in Arorangi where the guest speaker of the night was Eric Rush.

2012 Sportsman of the year – Peter Taua Elisa Henry (Sailing), 2012 Sportswoman of the Year – Patricia Taea (Athletics), 2012 Junior Sportsman of the Year – Alex Beddoes (Athletics), 2012 Junior Sportswomen of the Year – Teiti Tupuna (Athletics), 2012 Sports Team of the Year – Titikaveka Pearl Netball, 2012 Albert & Elizabeth Henry Memorial Sports Achievement Award – Patricia Taea (Athletics), 2012 Hugh Henry Fair Play Award – Peter Taua Elisa Henry (Sailing), 2012 IOC Personality Award – George George Williamson, 2012 Mamia Tunui Savage Memorial Trophy for Women in Sports – Tara Charlie (Sailing), 2012 Sports Technical Official of the Year – Sharon Marsters (Athletics), 2012 Sports Administrator of the Year – Alister Stevic (Cricket), 2012 Sports Coach of the Year – John Teiti (Athletics), 2012 Best Administrated Outer Island Sports Association – Aitutaki Cricket, 2012 Rautea Rangatira Outer Islands Sports Achievement – Lucky Topetai (Pukapuka Cricket), 2012 Manea Zone Sportsman of the Year – Patrick Tuara (Athletics), 2012 Manea Zone Sportswoman of the Year – Temaui Tura (Mauke Sports), 2012 Purapura Zone Sportsman of the Year – Peter Taua Elisa Henry (Sailing), 2012 Purapura Zone Sportswoman of the Year – Helema Tupou Tapakauteru Williams (Sailing).

Matariki Wilson

It is with great pleasure to advice, that CISNOC will be hosting the 2012 National Sports Awards and Hall of Fame, on Thursday, 28th March 2013, at the Edgewater Beach Resort and Spa, 6pm.

Our guest speaker for our awards night is Eric Rush, NZ Rugby 7’s Legend.

Nomination forms enclosed.

Tickets are on sale as of today, $50.00.

The International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Programme (ICECP) is an intensive educational programme which will appeal to coaches who have not previously been able to benefit from educational programmes requiring a longer term commitment. It is a programme offering lectures, projects, guest speakers, participant presentations, group work, field trips, and project planning and implementation.

The Olympic Cauldron was dismantled on the day of the Closing Ceremony for the XXX Olympiad, commonly known as, the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The cauldron consists of 204 copper petals, each representing one of the competing nations. They were brought into the stadium by each team as part of the athletes' procession then attached to long pipes in a ring at the centre of the arena.

All World Programmes and Guidelines are now available, it can be found under "Olympic Solidarity 2013-2016". For those National Federations wanting to know more regarding these programmes, please feel free to contact CISNOC staff on Ph: 24-095 for further information.