Athletics Australia and Little Athletics to unite - OneAthletics Proposal
Published Thu 17 Oct 2019
Athletics Australia and Little Athletics Australia have announced a proposed merger with the vision of transforming athletics into the biggest participation sport in the country, with a clear and logical pathway for athletes, coaches and officials throughout their life in the sport. Currently operating as separate entities, this proposal relates to the creation of one National body for our sport and is actively supported by Sport Australia.
Athletics SA is committed to a one sport approach that creates pathways and opportunities for all to participate in athletics. We have and will continue to work collaboratively with Little Athletics SA.
Shared objectives of both State bodies are included in an on-going One Sport Memorandum of Agreement and we have numerous projects and initiatives of mutual interest presently in operation – its ‘business as usual’ for us.
The below media release provides further information on the proposed National body merger. For media enquiries, please contact Chloe Maguire, Bango Group, 0401 855 645, chloe@bangogroup.com.au
UPDATE REGARDING COVID-19
Athletics Tasmania has received an update on the OneAthletics program from Mark Arbib (AA) and Andrew Pryor (LAA), given the rapidly evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.
They write:
These are unprecedented times requiring the full focus and resources of administrators and officials at all levels of the sport. Each of us has a vital role to play to help guide Australian Athletics through this crisis.
It is important that we continue to move forwad with the proposal to unite Little Athletics and Athletics Australia but, in light of developments and after careful consideration and discussion, we must ensure these processes do not impinge upon our more immediate and urgent work to ensure the safety of athletes and the athletics community.
To this end, we will need to delay some OneAthletics activities to ensure that we continue to adhere to the latest advice from Government health experts.
The following events have been postponed until further notice:
- The planned face-to-face engagemnet at the Australian Little Athletics Championships (ALAC)
- All stakeholder meetings with Little Athletics Australia and Athletics Australia state and territory member boards
- The OneAthletics vote deadline (originally scheduled for October 2020)
In the next few weeks, we will release a more detailed outline of the new timeline for the merger vote, now envisaged to occur sometime in 2021.
We will continute to monitor the situation closely and will base all of our decisions on the latest advice of the Federal and State Governments and their health experts.
The work of the OneAthletics Governance Committee and officials from Sport Australia will continue during this period, but it will be secondary to our efforts in combating COVID-19. In the interests of protecting the health and well-being of everyone within the athletics community and to adhere to the latest social distancing guidelines, we won't proceed with face-to-face meetings at this time, although we will investigate alternative options.
Athletics is so important to us all and we want to be in the best position collectively to emerge from this stronger that ever. Together we can ensure the future of our great sport as we unite towards our shared purpose to transform athletics into the biggest participation sport in Australia.
You can read more about Little Athletics Australia's http://littleathletics.com.au and Athletics Australia's http://www.athletics.com.au response to the Coronavirus by visiting their websites.
For more information on OneAthletics please visit the FAQs plage on our website http://oneathletics.com.au/faqs
