OFC’s new mascot was the creation of Year 8 students from DAV Primary School in Ba, Fiji Islands. The classmates participated in the recent OFC Mascot Competition that was run through the OFC Just Play Programme, in conjunction with partners UNICEF and the Australian Sports Commission.
OFC Head of Social Responsibility and International Relations, Franck Castillo, said that the goal was to come up with a mascot that represents the social values of the organisation and its partnerships.
“The OFC mascot will become a presence at all OFC activities, including competitions, and will promote the positive value of sports including important lessons or messages associated with the Just Play Programme in the Pacific,” said Castillo.
Pasifi-ika’s entry was accompanied by the following description: “The mascot chosen represents our rich ocean and its ecosystem. It also reflects how Pacific countries treasure their marine life and mineral resources.”
“The top part of the dolphin is coloured blue, yellow and green which represents the OFC logo. The light blue in the middle represents our lovely Pacific Ocean, and the golden colour represents the vast amount of mineral resources that boosts the Pacific economy.”
“The brown colour represents the Melanesian group and the tapa print represents the Polynesian group. This makes our Pacific Islands unique and rich in cultural diversity.”
The Fiji winners will receive a brand new computer for their school pre-loaded with educational and teaching resources thanks to UNICEF. The winning team will also be given a set of exclusive OFC t-shirts for the class as part of their prize package.
The next stage will see a song competition launched in September 2014 which will become the anthem for Pasifi-ika as it travels around Oceania.
Video Content: See Pasifi-ika introduce himself here .
Extra Information:
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: 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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