Oceania_Athletics_Association
Oceania Athletics Association
Governing body for athletics in Oceania
The Oceania Athletics Association (OAA) is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Oceania. The OAA head office is located in Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
| Formation | August 21, 1969 |
|---|---|
| Type | Sports federation |
| Headquarters | Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |
Membership | 20 member + 3 associate member federations |
President |  Robin Sapong-Eugenio |
| Website | Athletics-Oceania.com |
The OAA was founded as Oceania Amateur Athletic Organization (OAAA) on August 21, 1969, during a "Congress of the delegates of Member Countries of the Australasian Area" held in Port Moresby, then Territory of Papua and New Guinea, at the time of the 3rd South Pacific Games. The name was changed to Oceania Athletics Organization (OAA) in February 2007.[1][2]
The current president of the association, Robin Sapong Eugenios (Northern Marianas) was firstly elected in December 2019 at the OAA Special Congress.
| Name | Country | Presidency |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Hodsdon |  Australia |
1969–1978 |
| Lee Morrison | Australia |
1978–1985 |
| Clive Lee | Australia |
1985–1991 |
| Peter Anderson |  Papua New Guinea |
1991–1995 |
| Viliame S Tunidau |  Fiji |
1995–1999 |
| Anne Tierney |  Cook Islands |
1999–2007 |
| Geoff Gardner |  Norfolk Island |
2007–2019 |
| Robin Sapong-Eugenio | Northern Mariana Islands |
2019–present |
The OAA holds the following championships:
- Oceania Combined Events Championships
- Oceania Cross Country Championships
- Oceania Marathon and Half Marathon Championships
- Oceania Race Walking Championships
- Oceania Championships
Moreover, the following regional championships were organized:
In 2011, a new regional concept was introduced, and the three regional championships and the Oceania Championships were unified to the Oceania Regional (or Area) Championships, or simply again Oceania Championships. Two regions "East" and "West" were classified. Athletes from the two regions may compete together at the championships, but results will be separated for rankings purposes, and medals are awarded separately.
Associate member associations
A modification of Article 4.2 of World Athletics constitution set new rules limiting its membership as follows: "The national governing body for Athletics in any Country or Territory shall be eligible for Membership. Members that represented Territories on 31 December 2005 shall continue to be Members. No new Territories shall be admitted to the Membership."[3]
As a consequence, the OAA made constitutional amendments[4] to its Article 2.5, introducing an associate membership to allow territories like New Caledonia, Niue, and Wallis and Futuna to participate officially "in OAA activities, including area and regional competitions".[5] This also applies for Tokelau, where the first athletics event ever took place recently.[6]
In 2008, New Caledonia became the first associate member,[1][7] Niue followed in 2009.[1]
- "General History of Oceania Athletics Association". OAA. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
- "Oceania Athletics Association's Council - History". OAA. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
- International Association of Athletics Federations - Constitution - In force as from 1st November 2011, World Athletics, p. 12, retrieved February 11, 2014
- Oceania Athletics Association Inc Constitution - Adopted on 8 May 2009 - Commencement Date 8 May 2009 (PDF), Oceania Athletics Association, May 8, 2009, archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014, retrieved February 11, 2014
- Modification de la constitution océanienne (in French), Fédération d'Athlétisme de Polynésie Française, August 26, 2007, archived from the original on February 23, 2014, retrieved February 11, 2014
- Oceania Council Meeting Looks to the Future, Oceania Athletics Association, June 25, 2008, retrieved February 11, 2014