Ajah Pritchard Lolo at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

 

Vanuatu Athletes Commission (VAC) has a new Chairlady, Ajah Pritchard Lolo. Lolo is excited about her new role for the next four years.

Lolo said: “I feel a great honor to have been selected onto the Vanuatu Athlete’s Commission by fellow athletes of various sports federations, let alone being voted Chair Lady by my peers.

“I am excited to lead a new chapter of the VAC and I cannot thank VASANOC enough for their support so far of myself and the commission.”

Lolo believes in the responsibilities which will come with the new role. “It is definitely a role with a lot of responsibilities, all in the good to help our national rep athletes. We, the Athlete’s Commission are the new voice of the athletes,” she said.

“It will be our responsibility to make sure the athletes are heard, and their opinions are taken into account.”

Before being appointed to the new role Lolo had already started a women’s forum.  “Prior to knowing about this opportunity and this new role. I had started a women’s Forum that consisted of the female athletes who represented Vanuatu at the Saipan Pacific Mini Games and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.

“This forum was created for us female athletes to have a safe, strong, fun space for us to talk about issues, challenges win, and other topics. These ideas I have to help support our athletes,” she said.

The main priority this year will be the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. “This year, a big goal will be to prepare our athletes as much as we can for the Solomon Island Pacific Games that will be held from the end of November to the beginning of December.

“It is important the athletes know they are being heard, that they have rights and will be listened to,” Lolo added.

The weightlifter has also confirmed she will be attending the Oceania Weightlifting Federation Elite Training Camp end of this month. “Pacific Games is definitely one of the big competitions I will be aiming to attend this year to represent Vanuatu,” she said.

“I have a few exciting trips coming up! I am attending the Oceania Weightlifting Federation Elite Training Camp at the end of March held in Canberra, Australia.”

Ajah represented Vanuatu in weightlifting at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. She represented Vanuatu at the 5th ONOC Athletes Forum from 22nd to 24th September 2022 in Fiji.

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SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST