Oceania nations welcome Commonwealth Sport
Our President, Dr. Donald Rukare and CEO Katie Sadleir were on the road in May travelling to New Zealand and Australia to engage with Oceania sporting representatives.
Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
The week began in Auckland at the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) General Assembly. Donald and Katie met with ONOC President Baklai Temengil-Chilton to discuss shared priorities around athlete pathways, Para sport development and the opportunities ahead as the region builds towards Brisbane 2032. A conversation built on partnership and a belief in the power of sport across the Pacific.
They also met with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Kirsty Coventry, reinforcing Commonwealth Sport's alignment with the wider Olympic Movement: sustainability, flexibility, athlete-centred delivery, and ensuring major events remain meaningful in a rapidly changing world.
On the evening of 18 May, Commonwealth Sport hosted a reception, bringing together representatives from across our 14 Oceania member CGAs, alongside valued partners from ONOC, Sport NZ, New Zealand Government and the IOC. Evenings like this remind us how powerful our relationship network is across the region and the wider Commonwealth.
The following day, The Commonwealth Sport Oceania Regional Meeting brought CGAs together for a full day of discussions, covering final Glasgow 2026 preparations, the Malta 2027 Commonwealth Youth Games pipeline, the Game Changers Initiative, updates from the Athlete Advisory Commission and a deep-dive workshop focusing on High Performance and Culture. Our President opened the meeting with heartfelt words:
"The Oceania CGAs have always played a central role in shaping the direction, credibility and ambition of Commonwealth Sport. Your athletes perform at the highest level. Your nations continue to play an influential role across international sport. And your voices, constructive, collaborative and forward-looking, help ensure we remain relevant in a rapidly changing global sporting landscape."
The day closed with a Q&A panel featuring Donald, Katie and Regional Vice President Craig Phillips AM, with an open conversation about the Games pathway ahead.
Later in the week, Katie presented to the NZ Sports Leaders Forum, speaking about the ever-changing global sporting landscape and the importance of the Reimagined Games in protecting the long-term future of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
Away from the meetings, we also want to celebrate our CEO Katie Sadleir CNZM, who received in person, the ISPS Handa Halberg Sport New Zealand Leadership Award 2025, a prestigious award and deserved recognition of her outstanding contribution to sport leadership. Congratulations Katie!
Thank you to every CGA who joined us in Auckland. Their engagement and belief in our Movement is integral to the future of Commonwealth Sport.
Australia
From Auckland, Donald travelled to Australia to join Commonwealth Games Australia for their Annual General Meeting, accompanied by Glasgow 2026 CEO Phil Batty OBE and our Commercial Director Sharon van Gulik.
Donald met with the new CEO of Channel Seven, Rohan Lund, before joining athletes for the official launch of Team Australia's Commonwealth Games uniform, a moment of excitement for athletes and CGA Australia with just two months to go until the Games.
Speaking to the CGA AGM, Donald reflected on the sense of momentum building across the Movement and paid tribute to Australia's contribution:
"Australia continues to play an enormously important role within Commonwealth Sport, through leadership, partnership, athlete excellence and practical support across the wider Commonwealth family."
The day concluded with a Q&A alongside Phil Batty OBE, with a forward-looking conversation about the Games pipeline and what lies ahead for the Movement.
Thank you Commonwealth Games Australia for a wonderful week.
Looking to the future
Weeks like this one are a reminder of what makes the Movement so special. The relationships and the shared belief in the future direction of Commonwealth Sport. These partnerships, across Oceania, Australia and throughout the Commonwealth, will lead us to Glasgow in just two months, before driving onto to Malta 2027, Amdavad 2030 and beyond.
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