1. Guam Seminar Participants
NEWS
Issue 3, July 2010
Welcome to the third Women and Sport of Oceania (WASO) newsletter.
Congratulations to Susie Simcock (New Zealand) on receiving this year’s IOC Women & Sport Award for Oceania, and to Anolyn Lulu (Vanuatu) who was presented with the IOC Trophy for Inspiring Young People.
It was fitting that both these Awards were presented in conjunction with the 2010 Olympic Day Celebrations to such worthy recipients.
The WASO Executive took the opportunity of meeting in May, in conjunction with the IWG World Conference in Sydney. See newsletter for more details.
Warmest Regards
Helen Brownlee
Chair
WASO
2010/11 Oceania Events
1 – 10 August 2010
Micronesian Games, Palau.
Combined Women & Sport and Athletes Commission Breakfast.
8 March 2011
International Women’s Day
(Celebration of women’s achievements worldwide).
April 2011 (Date TBA)
ONOC General Assembly
OSFO Meetings
The Meridian Hotel, Noumea
New Caledonia
IOC Recognition for Oceania Women
Guam Seminar Participants
Susie Simcock, IOC Trophy for Women and Sport (Oceania)
The IOC Women and Sport Trophy is presented to exceptional personalities who have made a significant difference to boosting the development, participation and involvement of women and girls in sport. Susie Simcock, Chair of the New Zealand NOC Women and Sport Committee, received the 2010 Award for Oceania.
Susie (second from right) was the first woman elected President of the World Squash Federation, and the first to be elected as a council member of GAISF, today known as Sport Accord. She led the mergers between men’s and women’s federations in international squash, and NZ golf, ensuring gender balance at the executive level. She has initiated several projects for promoting gender balance in NZ sport, and has enthusiastically shared her experience with the women of Oceania at regional conferences. Congratulations Susie!
Anolyn Lulu, IOC Trophy for Inspiring Young People
Anolyn was Vanuatu’s Athlete of the Decade (1999 – 2009)
after winning 1 silver and 5 gold medals in 5 consecutive
Pacific Games, as well as the Oceania Table Tennis Pacific
Cup. She is currently the Oceania Coordinator for Women’s
Table Tennis, the Stop HIV Champion for Vanuatu and the
Chair of the VASANOC Athletes Commission.
Her outstanding leadership has enabled her to share her
expertise with young athletes and inspire them to “reach
their dream” of representing their country. We are very
proud of Anolyn - a “Golden Girl” in every respect! Well
done!
(Photo courtesy of VASANOC)

2. WASO Executive Meeting May, 2010
IWG World Conference on Women and Sport
WASO Executive Meeting May, 2010
Items of interest from the Executive meeting included a review of current documents which have been updated and placed on the ONOC/WASO website. These include:
The WASO Strategic Plan, which now reflects the ONOC Strategic Plan and the relevant recommendations from the IOC Congress of 2009.
Guidelines for the Establishment of NOC Women and Sport Committees, which now includes the Model Terms of Reference, as well as an Activation Process to assist new Committees to begin their work.
It was agreed that all Women and Sport Committees should include an athlete representative, to strengthen our links with the Athletes Commission, and the Model Terms of Reference now reflect this decision. In addition, The Executive would encourage W&S Committees to look at developing a project to mentor young female elite athletes in their respective countries.
A standard format was accepted for identifying “best practice” within the region, and this template will be added to the website.
WASO CONTACTS
WOMEN AND SPORT, OCEANIA EXECUTIVE
Helen Brownlee – Chair
Lestly Ashby
Dalsie Baniala
Salaia Gabbard
Susie Yee
ONOC EXECUTIVE BOARD
Baklai Temengil
The 5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport was held in Sydney from 20 – 23 May, In order to strengthen and support the development of women and sport in the Oceania region, the Organising Committee engaged the Australian Sports Commission to offer scholarships covering travel and accommodation for 7 individuals from Palau, PNG, Solomon Is and Vanuatu. When the WASO Executive were registered as participants, in addition to the conference presenters, the overall Oceania representation covered nine Oceania NOC’s.
Reflecting the theme “Play, Think, Change”, the conference program provided a unique blend of presentations about good practices and cutting-edge research. The stimulating debates enabled delegates to explore positive change for women and sport. Overall, research suggested that 35% women are needed on a Board to be effective, and not regarded as a “token”. Changes can be made by networking , specific meetings, mentoring, and personal development. Education of the NOC and NF’s as well as support from the NOC and NF’s are critical components for success.
To this end, the Sydney Scoreboard, an internet based measurement tool aimed at driving increased female representation on sporting boards, is the ongoing legacy of the IWG Conference. WASO will be contributing to this scoreboard with the Women on Executive Boards Database which can be viewed on the ONOC / WASO website.
Pacific Games Council
The Pacific Games Council Executive Board decided at their Nadi meeting to appoint a woman to the Board, (co-opted member)to serve through until the next Executive Board elections. Subsequently they called for nominations from the member NOC’s and four nominations were received by the closing date of 31 May. We congratulate the PGC Executive for taking this step and acknowledging the benefit a woman would bring to their Board. A decision will be made prior to the next Board meeting scheduled for August, and we look forward to hearing who will be the successful new member.
Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Women and Sport Committee has been very busy over the last few months organising a range of activities. In April, a meeting was organised with the sport federations to identify the need for the involvement of women as well as provide an update on recent developments. Perhaps as a direct result, the “Sports and the Environment” seminar organised by VASANOC in June, attracted eight female representatives from the sports federations.
In May, the Committee coordinated a Training day for Capacity Building which proved to be a most worthwhile initiative, and in June, they were heavily involved in the VASANOC Sports Festival Week. The day allocated to the W&S Committee was 23 June, International Olympic Day, when they were able to promote their activities with the theme “Wise move: Women and Sports participate and develop in Sports”.
WASO Executive with Baklai Temengil (ONOC)
News from Around the Region