About TASANOC

The Tonga National Olympic Committee which is registered as the Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee (TASANOC) was recognised by IOC in 1984.

It sprang from the Tonga National Olympic Committee which was created in 1961 as the Tonga Amateur Sports Association (TASA) to prepare athletes for the inaugural South Pacific Games. Its President is Mr. Michael A. Bloomfield and its Secretary-General is Mr Siosifa Takitoa Taumoepeau. Its office is located in Halevuloto in the capital, Nuku’alofa.

‍The National Context

‍Tonga is the last constitutional monarchy in the Pacific islands and its economy is heavily reliant on remittances and tourism. Like most Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Oceania continent, it has a narrow export base in agricultural produce. These include crops such as squash, vanilla beans, yams and marine harvests of fish. It also produces coconuts, coffee, copra, cocoa, sweet potatoes, taro and kava. Tonga imports a significant proportion of its food from New Zealand. To offset its trade deficit, it depends on external aid and remittances.

Tonga has an educated workforce which provides a good labour base and its government is supporting the growth of the private sector with commitment to increasing support for healthcare and education.

TASANOC works for the development of Olympism and sport and physical activity in this context.

Tonga won its first and currently only Olympic Games medal when boxer Paea Wolfgramm won a silver medal in the Summer Games of 1996 held in Atlanta, USA.

TASANOC currently has well-established office infrastructure and a team of fulltime staff responsible for supporting the activities of the member National Federations. It also serves as a link between ONOC and Tongan athletes and sporting bodies in the ecosystem of the broad Olympic Movement in Oceania and globally.

Highlights

1961

Tonga Amateur Sports Association (TASA) created to prepare a National Team for the inaugural South Pacific Games to be held in Fiji in 1963.

1963

Tonga sends its first National Team of athletes to participate in a regional event.

1976

TASA becomes the Tonga Commonwealth Games Association to prepare and send a National Team to the Commonwealth Games held in Christchurch, New Zealand.

1984

TASANOC officially recognised by the IOC. Tonga participates in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in one sport only – boxing

1986

The IOC President, Juan Antonio Samaranch visits Tonga as part of his first tour to the Pacific. Tonga was officially recognised as a member of the IOC.

1988

Tonga sends a National Team comprising athletics and boxing to the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

1989

Tonga (TASANOC) hosts the South Pacific Mini Games. With the assistance of Brian Wightman, it returns a profit. TASANOC establishes its Executive under the guidance of Lord Tevita Tupou and Dr Fred Sevele

1992

Tonga sends a National Team to the Summer Olympic Games held in Barcelona, Spain.

1996

Tonga sends a National Team to the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA. Tongan boxer, Paea Wolfgramm wins a silver medal in boxing – the country’s first and only Olympic medal to date.