Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee has appointed new board members as part of its annual general meeting.

CISNOC executive assistant to the secretary general Jason Lindsay confirmed the appointments in writing and supplied Cook Islands News with a copy of the 2022 annual report.     

The AGM was held on March 29 where Romani Katoa retained his position as senior vice president.

Clee Marsters, Daphne Brown and Mark Short were welcomed as newly appointed vice presidents for a four-year term.

Three outgoing board members were thanked for their outstanding contribution and work for sports in the Cook Islands over the past four years.

Makiroa Mitchell-John, Kurai Foster and Potini Regina Potini.

In their introduction in the annual report, president Hugh Graham and secretary general Owen Lewis said 2022 was unprecedented from a sporting perspective.

It brought extreme challenges, several outstanding events and performances, and made the year a huge success on and off the sporting fields.

Most importantly, 2022 was highlighted by the visit of the IOC President, Dr Thomas Bach and his wife and senior officials from Olympic solidarity.

“Having President Bach on our shores presented us with the opportunity to launch and open our newly created Cook Islands Sports Museum.

“Although it is small, we are extremely proud of our history and the ability to preserve this. President Bach was also able to re-open the Federation Room at Olympic House and this gives our National Federations office space to use at no cost.”

Unfortunately, the first COVID outbreak took place in the Cook Islands the week of the proposed annual general meeting.

Fortunately, the annual pre-AGM financial workshop had taken place the week prior to the proposed AGM.

This meant that the audit statement and the annual financial report had been discussed by members that attended. In due course, and after consultation with the IOC legal team, a unanimous electronic decision was made by members to cancel the AGM for 2022.

This was possible given that 2022 was a non-elective year for the executive board and all members had received the various reports and had the opportunity to discuss the financial report and audit statement.

“As such, we sought the necessary approvals from our National Federation presidents electronically.”

The annual Sports Awards were similarly cancelled for the same reason.

“Once again keeping the nation moving and supporting our National Federations to deliver events and programmes domestically and internationally were our priorities.

“Our work in 2022 built upon these priorities as the team increased its domestic

presence with a vision to support and inspire people to become active.”

The 2022 year started with the fourth annual Cook Islands Beach Games.

With the population changes, as a result of the closure of the borders and the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, numbers of teams and athletes were slightly down on 2021.

It still attracted over 200 athletes participating across six beach sports, with the addition of air badminton.

In 2022, the Sport 4 Life programme was successfully delivered in early childhood education centres and, primary and secondary schools on Rarotonga.

Developments in 2022 included the delivery of further holiday programmes as part of Sport 4 Life.

The Sport 4 Life afterschool programme grew in 2022.

The success of the pilot in 2021 prompted calls for CISNOC to continue the initiative in 2022 and it was extremely well supported.

The first FISU Cook Islands event in conjunction with the Cook Islands High Commission and the five Cook Islands Students Associations in New Zealand took place.

The gathering brought together students from around the country to participate in sports, cultural and academic events.

On top of our its own sporting initiatives, CISNOC supported most National Federations to fulfil their annual calendars.

“Due to the declining population and the voluntary nature of sport, it is becoming increasingly difficult for National Federations to deliver on their calendar of events without the support of the CISNOC team,” the report said.

In respect to education work the following OSEP courses were delivered on Rarotonga.

o Sport in Communities

o Community Coach & Official

o MiSO – Mod 2: Effective Meetings

o MiSO – Mod 4: Financial Management for clubs/federations

o MiSO – Mod 5: Event & Facility Management

In addition, in conjunction with the Cook Islands Tertiary Training Institute and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in New Zealand CISNOC delivered the New Zealand Certificate in Sport coaching (L3) and the New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (L5) / New Zealand Diploma in Sport Recreation & Exercise (L5).

The programmes were delivered on top of CISNOC school education programmes that are delivered throughout the school year on Rarotonga.

The programmes included a focus on the history of the Pacific Games movement, the Commonwealth Games, Cook Islands history and geography connected with the Cook Islands Games and a mascot competition for CIGames2022.