Stronger relationships the goal at Oceania-Asia meeting
Twenty-one Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) unite this weekend with the objective of strengthening Commonwealth Family relationships at the Maldives 2024 Oceania and Asia Regional Meeting of Commonwealth Sport.
President Chris Jenkins and CEO Katie Sadleir and Maldives CGA President Mohamed Abdul Sattar and Secretary General Thamooh Ahmed Saeed will lead the 22-23 September summit that serves as an opportunity for CGAs to share learnings on sustainability, sport development and meaningful social impact that Commonwealth Sport has the ability to influence.
The meeting also aims to deepen CGAs’ understanding of the vision for a ‘reset and reframed’ Commonwealth Games – with 2026 an important first step in the development of a co-created, flexible, and sustainable Games.
During the two-day celebration of Commonwealth culture, other agenda items include a review of the Maldives CGA’s and Oceania and Asia region’s objectives.
‘’Maldives hosting this Regional Meeting is a fantastic opportunity to further develop our Commonwealth Family relationships,’’ said President Jenkins. ‘’For our Movement to harness the power of our differences requires our strong, vibrant independent members, treated as equals, learning from each other and discovering what we are capable of across culture, sport, diplomacy, economy, and socially.
‘’The sharing in such an important meeting will only help position our Movement as a catalyst in supporting and promoting our Members’ sustainable development aspirations within a United Commonwealth.
‘’The Maldivian people are very generous and rich in culture – one of our key pillars of our Commonwealth Sport Movement – and it is important to celebrate the uniqueness and beauty of the Maldives with our Commonwealth Family.
‘’With small island nations such an important part of the Commonwealth Family, we look forward to learning more about the environmental and sustainability challenges faced by the Maldives and how our Movement can work together in highlighting these important issues,’’ said Jenkins.
During their visit, President Jenkins and CEO Sadleir are set to meet the Honourable Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu, to discuss the Maldives national sports development strategy and how Commonwealth Sports can support the Maldives’ ambitions in sport.
The Maldives meeting will be the first of three upcoming Regional Meetings over the next month with the Mombasa 2024 Africa and Europe Regional Meeting on 7-8 October and the Turks and Caicos 2024 Caribbean and Americas Regional Meeting on 17-18 October.
Image right to left: Commonwealth Sport President Chris Jenkins, CEO Katie Sadleir and Regional Development Manager Mel Cooper are welcomed by Maldives Commonwealth Games Association President Mohamed Abdul Sattar ahead of the Oceania & Asia Regional Meeting that takes place 22-23 September.