Oceania Athletics Association


The Oceania Athletics Association is the governing body for the sport of athletics in Oceania. The OAA head office is located in Varsity Lakes, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

History

The OAA was founded as Oceania Amateur Athletic Organization 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 in February 2007.

Presidents

The current president of the association, Geoff Gardner was
firstly elected at the OAA Council held in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, in
February 2007. and re-elected on February 4, 2011 at the OAA Council held in Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia.
NameCountryPresidency
Arthur Hodsdon1969-1978
Lee Morrison1978-1985
Clive Lee1985-1991
Peter Anderson1991-1995
Viliame S Tunidau1995-1999
Anne Tierney1999-2007
Geoff Gardner Norfolk Island2007-

Competitions

The OAA holds the following 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 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.

Member associations

Associate member associations

A modification of Article 4.2 of the IAAF 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."
As a consequence the OAA made constitutional amendments to its Article 2.5 introducing an associate membership to allow territories like New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, and Niue to participate officially "in OAA activities, including area and regional competitions". This also applies for Tokelau where the first athletics event ever took place recently.
In 2008, New Caledonia became the first Associate Member, Niue followed in 2009.