OFC Head of Social Responsibility and International Relations Franck Castillo says the idea is something that has been on the cards for a while and he’s incredibly pleased to see it coming into fruition.
“I think it’s good to have one symbol in an organisation and for us, because social responsibility is important and we all believe football is more than just a game, we have decided that a mascot is one way of representing all the social values of the organisation,” Castillo explains.
“It will promote the good value of sport and the Just Play social objectives of non-communicable diseases, gender equality and social and disability inclusion, as well as any kind of positive message for the community at large – respect and solidarity, for example.”
The OFC Mascot Competition is open to all Just Play participating schools around the Pacific, with each school invited to submit one entry to their country’s Just Play Project Manager.
A panel in each Member Association, linking with the respective education department, will shortlist two designs which will then be forwarded for OFC, UNICEF and the Australian Sports Commission to decide a top three, with the first-placed concept winning a desktop computer, thanks to UNICEF.
Entries will be judged on their creativity, usability and relevance – with how it reflects the Pacific region a major factor.
Entrants will also be required to support their design with a name for the mascot and a short essay explaining how and why they came up with this mascot, the values it represents and why they chose that particular name.
“We want people to be able to easily identify with the mascot as a representative of our region, our cultures and our values, while also taking into account that OFC is a football organisation” Castillo says.
The Mascot Competition is expected to lead in to a song competition, to be held later this year, which will be based on the Just Play social objectives and be sung by the mascot.
All entries must be forwarded to the Just Play department in each Member Association no later than Monday, 12 May 2014 at 4pm.
About OFC
OFC is charged with the task of servicing and administering football in the Oceania region while also using the game as a tool for social development. The confederation is led by OFC President David Chung who was elected to office in 2011.
The Just Play Programme is designed and monitored by the OFC Social Responsibility department, in partnership with the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission, Football Federation Australia, UEFA and UNICEF. For more information about OFC or its 11 Member Associations visit: www.oceaniafootball.com
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and our work in the Pacific visit: unicefpacific.org
About Australian Sports Commission
The Australian Sports Commission is Australia’s primary national sports administration and advisory agency, and the cornerstone of a wide-ranging sports system. On behalf of the Australian Government, the ASC plays a central leadership role in the development and operation of the Australian sports system, administering and funding innovative sport programs and providing leadership, coordination and support for the sport sector.
The ASC has a highly successful International Relations program that has been growing and developing for over a decade. The program fosters cooperation in sport between Australia and other countries through the provision of resources, services and facilities related to sport. For more information about ASC and its work in the Pacific visit: ausport.gov.au

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