Page 15 - IB December 2022

People of the Year

GLOBAL SPORTS LEADER

DR ROBIN MITCHELL

By Samantha Magick

The confirmation of Dr Robin Mitchell as President of the As-
sociation of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) was a huge
achievement not only for his homeland of Fiji and the island
of Rotuma, but for the wider Pacific Islands region.
A former hurdler and hockey player, Fiji team doctor and
sports administrator of many years’ experience, Dr Mitchell
had been acting ANOC President during the pandemic. He was
unopposed when the position was put to the vote in Seoul at
ANOC’s general assembly.
ANOC is the umbrella organisation responsible for protect-
ing and advancing the interests of the world’s 205 National
Olympic Committees and promoting the Olympic Values world-
wide. It has a US$500 million budget for 2022-2026.
The complexities of managing this large and diverse
membership were evident at the assembly, when controversy
arose over the screening of a video by Russia National Olympic
Committee President, Stanislav Pozdnyakov. The video showed
footage filmed after the start of the war in Ukraine, prompt-
ing his Danish counterpart to describe it as “inappropriate
propaganda”, and walk out. At the time, Dr Mitchell said he
didn’t see the video in advance.
“When the issue of Ukraine came up, it was more of a
European thing,” he told Islands Business. “For me, we have Dr Robin Mitchell
conflicts all over the place that haven’t been recognised,
particularly in the Middle East and Africa. And we have other
issues in our part of the world, with West Papua, and all of Panamerican teams) and weightlifting.
that. So I think, in the sense with the politics, because I come “Weightlifting is probably a better chance. The target for
from a small country, you can talk to anybody.” most of the islands is to get in the top eight. Because in the
Mitchell says his priority is to ensure National Olympic top eight, you get medals, but you also get an Olympic diplo-
Committees (NOCs) know and utilise the support available to ma. And then of course if for some reason the gold medallist
them, including Olympic Solidarity funds. is from a country that gets a positive test, then you get move
He says despite their small size, Pacific Islands NOCs are up. Samoa has got a silver; they were the second country
leading the way on issues of sustainability and the environ- after Tonga to get a medal.”
ment, gender parity and representation at management Dr Mitchell’s new role involves lots of travel and many
levels. middle-of-the-night phone calls to other timezones. He says
There has been a move to professionalise sports manage- he doesn’t sleep much, tries to stay active (walking up and
ment through the Oceania National Olympic Committee down the four levels to IOC’s headquarters when he is there)
(ONOC) which represents 17 Pacific Island members. When Dr and tries not to eat too much. “Going to Beijing, I lost 10 kg
Mitchell started out, they were mainly volunteers motivated because I was going to run the torch relay, and you want to
by the desire to give back to their sports. He says now there make sure you finish the 100 metres and not collapse, and
are training programs recognised by the Pacific Community you’ve got all this gear on as well.”
(SPC), and ONOC staff are doing the Executive Masters in Dr Mitchell’s new role is more of a middle-distance event,
Sports Management through the IOC, an idea they would like but one which he has been training for his whole career.
to replicate in the region in partnership with a tertiary institu- As former Olympian Marcus Stephen, ONOC Executive
tion such as the University of the South Pacific. Member and President of the Nauru National Olympic Commit-
In terms of sporting prospects, Dr Mitchell says he has been tee (NNOC) said on the day of Dr Mitchell’s election, “this is a
following the Pacific’s rugby teams, especially the women’s big honour for Dr Mitchell and Oceania, a very proud day for
sides. He sees potential in sevens rugby of course, but also Oceania.”
beach volleyball, soccer (although it is difficult to progress
beyond Oceania because of the strength of the Asian and editor@islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, December 2022 15