PARTNERSHIPS

Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP)

Badminton Oceania has extended our involvement with Australia’s flagship sport for development program -Pacific Sports Partnerships (PSP) to June 2020.

We have continued to utilise the BWF Shuttle Time program as the basis for our PSP activities – to increase levels of regular participation of Pacific Islanders in quality sport activities:

Tonga – health focus – improving health related behaviours which impact on NCD risk factors, focusing on increasing levels of physical activity • Increased levels of regular participation of Tongans, including people with disability, in quality sport activities • Improved health related behaviours of Tongans, which • Increased public diplomacy opportunities impact on Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) risk factors, focusing on increasing levels of physical activity

Papua New Guinea – inclusion focus – in partnership with Gymnastics our objectives are: • Increased levels of regular participation of Papua New Guineans with disability, in quality sport activities • Improved attitudes towards and increased inclusion of people with disability in Pacific communities • Increased public diplomacy opportunities – good relationship with Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea

The PSP programme has allowed us to increase capacity through engaging staff to deliver, monitor the programme and report; building a larger workforce, by delivering Shuttle Time workshops; delivering in outer islands and rural/ outlying communities; creating partnerships with other sports and local organisations; connection with Australian High Commission and public diplomacy opportunities.

From July 2020 Australia’s sport for development programme changes to be known as the Australian Sport Partnership Programme.

Badminton Oceania continues to support ONOC’s flagship Oceania Sport Education program (OSEP). Our Fiji-based Regional Development Officer has delivered OSEP courses in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Nauru which have involved badminton participants. Tonga Badminton has also been involved in OSEP workshops, delivering programmes to their communities.

BOC Development Manager; Nadia Bleaken, attended the ONOC General Assembly held in Nadi, Fiji in March 2019. This annual gathering of Oceania Sports leaders, National Olympic Committee’s (NOC’s), International Olympic Committee representatives, regional sports bodies and other interested stakeholders is an important event to learn and share information, best practice, and network with key sports leaders in the region.

Organisation of Sports Federations of Oceania (OSFO)

Badminton Oceania is one of 27 sports that belong to OSFO. Again, OSFO held their AGM in conjunction with the ONOC General Assembly in Nadi, Fiji in March with Badminton Oceania in attendance to connect with many other sports to share successes and challenges of delivery in the region, and where we can collaborate for mutual benefit.

It was with great delight that our President, Geraldine Brown, was awarded an OSFO Merit Award in recognition of the work she has done within badminton throughout the region. Nadia accepted the award in Fiji on Geraldine’s behalf (and without her knowledge) with it being presented to her by BWF’s Stuart Borrie at our AGM in Nanning, China in May.

Special Olympics

Since signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Special Olympics Asia Pacific in 2018, the positive relationship has continued to grow. Our Development Manager; Nadia Bleaken, has been in frequent contact with Special Olympics staff to assist in developing programs in member countries. The focus being Shuttle Time activities delivered in Guam, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.