Beatrice Faumuina (NZL) with 2002 Commonwealth Discus gold medal (© Getty Images)
Beatrice Faumuina has been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
New Zealand’s 1997 World Champion Discus Throw gold medallist is honoured to have been asked to assist the Organisation in its effort to defeat hunger in developed and developing countries, and was recommended for the position by the IAAF.
Faumuina, who is an IAAF Ambassador and a member of the IAAF Athletes’ Commission, has also donated the shoes she wore when winning that title in 1997 to the ‘Athletics for a Better World’ humanitarian project of which the FAO is one of the organisations involved, click here for the full story.
"There are currently 22 FAO ambassadors and I will be number 23," said Faumuina, who will receive a medal for the position at the world food day at the FAO headquarters in Rome on Sunday. Various heads of State and the Pope will be in attendance.
"It is a first for New Zealand and a first for Oceania. I am really honoured and it caps a great year for me," added Faumuina, who in June received the ONZM for services to athletics.
The duties of an ambassador are to be a spokesperson for the organisation in the fight to reduce hunger in the world. She will coordinate the activities with her overseas athletic competition.
"We will follow the crews through the villages assisting the plight of those who are disadvantaged hungry and suffering. It already has had a huge impact on me in being able to help someone dying to have a meal," said Faumuina.
The gold medallist in the Discus Throw at the last two Commonwealth Games will have her first competition of the season at the Porritt Classic meeting in Hamilton on 14 December and then at the North Sport Classic on 17 December.
Athletics New Zealand
