(NMA)—OFFICIALS of the Northern Marianas Athletics will be attending the Oceania Athletics Association 2007 Congress at Sofitel Broadbeach in Queensland, Gold Coast, Australia from Feb. 16 to 19.
NMA developmental officer Elias Rangamar and secretary general Robin Sapong left last night to attend the four-day event, which will be held simultaneously with the OAA/RDC Development seminar.
According to Sapong, the Congress will be attended by no less than IAAF president Lamine Diack. Joining the IAAF head in the meeting are IAAF secretary general Pierre Weiss and IAAF officials Elio Locatelli and Jee Isram.
“It is truly a great privilege for our area and our federations to have the president and the general secretary at this year’s congress. The Oceania Family is looking forward to sharing our vision for the future and working together over the next four years,” OAA president Anne Tierney was quoted as saying at the OAA website.
“This will be the first time that the IAAF president will be attending the OAA Congress and it’s a plus for us in because we will be able to tell him how we conduct our tournaments in the region and what are the problems that we are encountering,” Sapong said.
“In Europe, it’s easy for athletes to move from one competition venue to another because they can ride in buses and subways. But in Oceania, we may be not that far from our fellow member-islands, but the travel time take long hours and days,” he added.
Election of new OAA officers will also be held during the Congress.
After the election, a three-day developmental seminar will be attended by OAA member-islands/countries.
Sapong is one of the lecturers in the seminar and he will discuss sponsorships of tournaments.
“It’s basically about how a federation can get sponsorship from the private sector and how will you market your product, which is athletics,” Sapong said.
He added that Rangamar will also have a presentation at the meeting.
Rangamar will be showing the OAA members how NMA will be hosting the 2008 Oceania Athletics Association Area Championships.
The NMA developmental officer is expected to present the previous tournaments NMA hosted, like the Micronesian Games last year and the Micronesian Athletics Champions in 2005.