Five-time Olympic swimmer Probert, chairman of the Fiji Athletes' Commission, welcomed to Suva the 80 athletes attending from the country's 39 national federations, including those who are set to compete at this month's Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and next month's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

New Zealand sailor Kendall, who is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and chair of the Athletes' Commission of the Association of National Olympic Committees and Oceania National Olympic Committees, spoke of her experiences as an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallist, four-time world champion, New Zealand Sports Woman of the Year 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002 and Inductee in the International Sailing Hall of Fame.

Barbara Kendall addressed the 80 athletes in attendance at the FASANOC Athletes' Commission Forum ©Getty Images


She also shared information on the IOC Athletes' Career Programme on Excellence for Life, which is aimed at helping athletes to develop lifelong excellence in education, life skills and employment.

Meanwhile, the Voices of the Athletes (VOA) Programme, which promotes drug-free sport, HIV awareness and prevention, and the rights and responsibilities of athletes, featured in the day-long forum, with Sam Judd, a co-founder and chief executive of the Sustainable Coastlines Charitable Trust of New Zealand, presenting the VOA's "Go Green" message.

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