Papua New Guinea National Olympic Committee secretary general Auvita Rapilla is the first Pacific woman to become an executive member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Speaking to SUNsports yesterday Rapilla said it is an honour to be selected as an IOC member.

“Obviously becoming an IOC member means having more responsibilities, but the fact that I was in the Olympic movement for 22 years, it makes it easier for me to make that transition at that level,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges, unless we take on those challenges we will never realise our potentials and that’s the message that I want to give to every women out there. I got here because of very good support from my male colleagues

“There was PNGNOC president Sir John Dawanincura, he was secretary general at that time when I was employed, he mentored me through and all our executives of the PNG Olympic Committee.”

She feels honoured and blessed to be part of IOC.

“It’s humbling as well. It’s been a journey to come this far, it’s just overwhelming but I’m really grateful for this experience.”

Rapilla’s first involvement in sports was when she was a volunteer during the 1991 South Pacific Games in PNG. At that time she was a student at the University of Papua New Guinea. After she graduated in 1994 she got a job offer from the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee.

In 2011 she took over the role as secretary general for PNGOC from the current president Sir John Dawanincura.

“Its 22 years now and I built my career in sports management through the Olympic Committee. With the new role I took on in 2011 as secretary general and now an IOC member it has been an amazing journey.

“I really didn’t think that I would take up a career in sports  but I’m a netballer to so I always love sports since I was a kid, so it was easy to fit in any role in sports, but I really didn’t think that I would come this far.

“I just took one step at a time and I just did my job and worked hard and ensuring that I achieve my targets and to do my work to my best. This is something that I can’t get over with but I’m very proud, I can do this for my country.”

She is currently the Master Educator for the Oceania Sports Education Programme.

Her Message to Pacific women:

“The sky is the limit, something that pulls us back is fear of taking on more responsibilities, every time I progress in my career I always questioned myself am I ready for this?

“Do I really have to take this on? You never know  your  full potential unless you take that challenge.”

 Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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