OUSA From left to right: Donald Knapp, AUS CEO, Stefan Bergh, FISU Vice-President and CDSU Chair, George E. Killian, FISU President and Karen Nelson, OUSA President at the Belgrade 2009 FISU General Assembly
The Samoa Netball Team, photo Kolë Gjeloshaj
In 2007, a small group of individuals began work to form the regional university sport body. Members met in Bangkok during 2007 Universiade to discuss future activities to move the organization forward. Efforts began in several countries to form NUSFs, and countries prepared to meet for the first General Assembly of Oceania University Sports Association. The first official meeting of OUSA took place in February, 2009 in Samoa. FISU and CDSU officials, Stefan Bergh and Kolë Gjeloshaj were present to lead an education seminar and assist with the proceedings. The meeting was successful and the organization was formed.
The Samoa Netball Team, photo Kolë Gjeloshaj
and Development Services and Chief of Staff to the President. Mr. Tai-Cheng Chen, FISU Assessor (Chinese Taipei) also attended the meeting as an enthusiastic observer of the progress made by the countries of his neighborhood continent. At the end of the discussion Mr. Bergh made two presentations on FISU future events and FISU’s Development Policy, stressing the importance of the OUSA member’s participation at the next Summer Universiade to be held August 2011 in Shenzhen. He stated that OUSA is on the right track to develop its activities in synchronization with FISU’s goals and objectives.
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The number of OUSA countries participating in FISU events has quickly increased. Throughout the different programs we can see that for the first time three countries (Australia, Guam, and Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands) were in attendance at the FISU Forum held from June 21st to 26th 2010 in Vigo, Spain. Concerning the FISU World University Championship Programme, Melbourne hosted the FISU Squash Championship from July 10th to 18th 2010 and Guam took part for the first time in World University Rugby Sevens from July 21st to 24th 2010 in Porto, Portugal. By striving for better integration at an international level, countries from the continent including first-timers (American Samoa – Tennis and Samoa – Netball mix team) attended the Australian Northern University Games in Toowoomba from July 4th to 7th 2010. The netball team was ranked third and the American Samoa player was runner up in the women’s tennis tournament. The delegates from American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji and Samoa attended the Opening Ceremony. As travel distance is a challenge on the continent, the leaders of OUSA are looking to reproduce this kind of initiative in other regions.
The election had the following result: President: Karen Nelson- Samoa Vice-President: Ray Preston Cook Islands Secretary-General: Albert Miller - Fiji Members: Ed Imo - American Samoa Castro Joab - Federated States of Micronesia Martin Doulton – Australia History By Karen Nelson OUSA President Oceania University Sports Association began as an idea amongst leaders of FISU who felt that the 5th Continental Association needed to be formed to complete the FISU family. At that time, 4 Oceania countries were members of FISU – Australia, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Several other countries had participated in FISU events over the years, but had not officially formed university sports bodies in their countries.
Inaugural member countries were then challenged to work on the formation of their NUSFs, and membership with FISU for the 2009 FISU General Assembly in Belgrade. At this time, it was the hope of OUSA to present itself for recognition as the official 5th Continental Association. Over the 18 months, between the OUSA GA and FISU GA, countries throughout the Oceania region were contacted to educate them about FISU and OUSA. The end result was the addition of 6 new FISU members at the 2009 FISU GA, and the adoptions of OUSA as the 5th Continental Association for FISU. While these administrative activities have been taking place, a good deal of grass roots sporting activity has also occurred. Tertiary sporting events have been created in Fiji and Samoa and sub-regional activities have been created in Micronesia. More events are being planned, and through the newly formed network of university sport organizations, FISU and university sport are becoming regular conversations in a number of Oceania countries. This year, with the assistance of development funds from FISU, a number of
new events are possible. In July of this year, OUSA countries have been invited to join the Australia University Sports’ Northern Regional Games, giving OUSA an opportunity to participate in a regional competition. As OUSA focuses on expanding its participation in University Sport, we are also working to recruit additional membership. A number of countries have been working with OUSA and will hopefully be joining FISU at the next GA. OUSA faces many challenges. For one, there are vast differences in our membership, leading to huge differences in needs of our organizations. Australia and New Zealand have long standing university sport programs, which are well developed and a part of their university and sport culture. Papua New Guinea has also had a long history with FISU, and has a very active student union supporting university sport. Countries such as Fiji and Samoa are new to the university sport world, and are working to find their seat at the sporting table in their countries. Most of our Oceania countries have no identified funding for university sport, but again, this varies from country to country. Many nations do not have a large university on their island, but rely on the regional university for the education of their students. Each country has many university students living
abroad, which leave these countries with the challenge of tracking studentathletes for possible competitions. Distances between countries are huge. Populations vary as well – from over 20 million in Australia to less than 100,000 for many Pacific Island Nations. There are hundreds of cultures and hundreds of languages represented. More challenging for OUSA’s endeavors, the basic development of each country varies significantly. Some countries have regular internet access, while others do not; some countries have strong administrative support for sports organizations, others do not; some countries have the capacity and facilities to hold and host events, while others do not. As OUSA moves forward, understanding how to best meet the needs of such a varied region will be key to our success. Already, we are beginning to better grasp how we might begin to address the challenges we face and develop university sport for the Oceania region. OUSA Member Countries American Samoa / Australia /Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands / Cook Islands / Federated States of Micronesia / Fiji / Guam / New Zealand Papua New Guinea / Samoa
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