South Pacific Founds
Regional Committee

The South Pacific Regional Committee of the IPC has been formed subject to ratification by the IPC of the Constitution. The first full meeting of IPC Member countries within the South Pacific Region was held in Canberra at the Australia Institute of Sport of 16 July. In a wide-ranging agenda, a number of key issues relating to the development of the Paralympic Movement in the South Pacific were discussed.

A development plan and program of action are currently in the design phase. It has been agreed that the headquarters of the Region will be based within the offices of the Australian Paralympic Committee in Sydney. Initial funding support has been provided by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.

The Board of Directors was confirmed for a four-year term: President (Greg Hartung, Australia), Secretary (John Hughes, New Zealand), Finance (Jagdish Maharaj, Fiji), Director (Benson Tegia, Papua New Guinea). The inaugural members of the South Pacific Paralympic Committee (SPPC) are: Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Australia. In the light of the establishment of the South Pacific Committee, Nauru has decided to re-establish its own Paralympic Committee.

At the inaugural meeting, it was unanimously agreed that nations will remain closely involved with events conducted under the auspices of FESPIC and that good relations with FESPIC would continue to be nurtured.