ASNOC begins leadership development program for future Chefs de Mission
Preparing for upcoming events including the 2028 Summer Olympics By Asi Andrew Fa'asau andrew@samoanews.com Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A one-week Future Chefs de Mission Course was hosted by the American Samoa National Olympic Committee (ASNOC) at its headquarters in the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna recently. The course marked the beginning of an intensive leadership development program for sports administrators across the Pacific, in preparation for the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Organized by the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) in partnership with the Pacific Games Council (PGC), the course is designed to equip emerging leaders from all 22 Pacific Island countries and territories with the knowledge and skills required to serve as Chef de Mission at major international sporting events. The program was facilitated by Nynette Sass, a respected sports administrator from Samoa who served as her country’s Chef de Mission at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. Sass also has extensive experience with the Oceania Sport Education Programme (OSEP), where she has played a key role in designing and delivering leadership training initiatives for National Olympic Committees throughout the region. About a dozen local sports administrators and coaches took part in the week-long program, including two former Chefs de Mission for Team American Samoa. Their participation reflected not only their commitment to lifting the standard of local sports but also their willingness to continue representing and advocating for the Territory’s athletes on the international stage. According to course facilitator Nynette Sass, by bringing together both seasoned mentors and emerging leaders, the course emphasized the importance of preparing the administrative officers of American Samoa’s delegation for the upcoming 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. "Just as athletes must train to perform at their peak, the participants underwent intensive leadership training to help them carry out their duties and responsibilities with professionalism," Sass stated. "The Chef de Mission is the official national team leader of responsible for representing the team, coordinating logistics, and ensuring athletes’ welfare throughout the Games. Among the participants was James McGuire, a longtime surfer, paddler, and sailor, founding member of the Pago Pago Yacht Club, and passionate water sports advocate. McGuire served as Chef de Mission for the Territory’s delegation to the 2003 South Pacific Games in Fiji. Also participating in the course was Lisi Fauloloa Fa’agata, who served as Team American Samoa’s Chef de Mission to the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Born and raised in the Territory, Fa’agata distinguished herself early on as an exceptional athlete. Her height, strength, and commanding presence made her a formidable force on land as a powerful spiker on the volleyball court, and at sea as a strong outrigger canoe paddler. The core training modules participants' instruction focused on include: Leadership & Team Management, Games Operations & Logistics, Athlete Welfare & Support, Crisis & Risk Management, Cultural & Regional Awareness, and International Relations & Protocol. Course facilitator Nynette Sass pointed out that for smaller delegations like American Samoa, these modules are particularly valuable because they ensure smooth athlete experiences despite limited resources, help ASNOC officials gain confidence in international event management, and strengthen ties with other Pacific nations, fostering regional collaboration. "In essence, American Samoa’s CDM candidates are being trained not just as administrators, but as leaders, advocates, and protectors of their athletes’ interests on the world stage," Sass explained. She expressed her admiration for the promising leadership qualities emerging among the next generation of sports administrators in American Samoa, noting how impressed she was with their commitment and vision. In her remarks, she emphasized that these participants form part of a regional cohort being carefully groomed for future Games leadership, ensuring they are well-prepared to serve with distinction at Tahiti 2027 and beyond. At the conclusion of the course, Ms. Sass departed for Tonga, where she continued her mission by conducting another Future Chefs de Mission Course under the auspices of the Tonga Sports Association & National Olympic Committee (TASANOC), further strengthening the leadership infrastructure across Oceania. Section: Local News Tags: Chefs de Mission
2026-03-11 17:34:02