Rarotonga welcomed around 60 international delegates this week for the Oceania Athletics Association (OAA) Congress, marking the first time the Cook Islands has hosted the regional event.

The OAA Congress is the highest decision-making body in Oceania athletics.

Held in-person biennially, it brings together representatives from across the region to elect officials, update regulations and set the strategic course for athletics development.

Over the years, the Congress has played a significant role in expanding the sport’s reach to smaller island nations, promoting regional competitions such as the Oceania Championships, and supporting the growth of athletes, coaches and officials through targeted development programmes.

Simone Fe’ao, president of Athletics Cook Islands, said the idea to host the event began from her experience attending the last Congress in Fiji in 2023.

“After seeing how it was done there, I thought - why not Rarotonga? So I put the idea forward to the Oceania president and director. And here we are.”

This year’s Congress brought together delegates from 19 countries, including the Cook Islands.

While the formal agenda included receiving OAA annual reports, the broader week was filled with practical workshops on key topics like media, communications, safeguarding in sport, what does inclusion look like and the transition after sport.

“Most of the governance-level roles across the region are filled by volunteers,” said Fe’ao. “So these sessions help us learn how to better engage with our communities and fans, especially through media.”

One particularly important theme was “safeguarding” – creating a safe, inclusive environment for all involved in athletics.

“It’s not just a buzzword,” Fe’ao said. “It’s about ensuring athletes, coaches and officials and everyone are protected and supported. That there are appropriate measures in place to ensure a fun and safe environment.”

“Traditionally, athletes have been pushed to the brink, or there’s been unintended favouritism – safeguarding calls that out as inappropriate and makes sure the environment is encouraging and supportive.”

Fe’ao said that message has come through strongly and has challenged some of the ways they’ve traditionally done things in the Pacific, “but in a good way”.

She emphasised the value of peer learning during the week, with smaller nations like the Solomon Islands showcasing successful inclusion of people with disabilities in their athletics programmes – a model the Cook Islands hopes to adopt.

“Getting to ask, ‘How do you do it in Samoa, Tonga, or Tahiti?’ That’s where the real learning happens.”

Among those participating in the Congress for Cook Islands Athletics were Marie Williams, the new full-time programme manager for Athletics Cook Islands, board secretary Gina Bamber, and board member David Lobb.

“We kicked things off with an opening at OTB, overlooking the ocean,” Fe’ao said, adding that the Tereora College cultural group performed beautiful items. “Everyone loved seeing the genuine culture of the island.”

A free day was planned for delegates to explore the island before departure, and discussions during the week have already laid the groundwork for new initiatives, including the proposed Polynesian Championships, a regional athletics event for Polynesian nations.

“We’re planning to host it in Auckland - it’s a central hub with direct flights for all the islands,” Fe’ao said.

The Oceania Masters Athletes’ Commission also held its first-ever in-person meeting, coinciding with the Oceania Athletics Congress.

Previously limited to virtual meetings, this event offered members a valuable chance to connect face-to-face, share insights and work collaboratively to advance the development of masters’ athletics across the region.

The week-long event concluded yesterday, with most delegates expected to return home over the next couple of days.