The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of a $50.6 million injection into high performance funding over the next two years.
AOC President John Coates has thanked Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck for the funding which will assist athletes through the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Beijing 2022 Winter Games and through to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, also in 2022.
"This is great news! This is the certainty that our Olympic athletes and sports were looking for as they pick up the pandemic pieces and resume training for the Tokyo Games next year.
"It’s on their behalf that we thank the Government for its response to the 3 Point Plan for funding that Australian Olympic Committee submitted in partnership with Commonwealth Games Australia and Paralympics Australia.
Mr Coates says the funding injection will allow sports to secure the employment of high performance staff and support services for our athletes, thereby ensuring competitive Australian Teams for the Games ahead.
"This has been a period of great uncertainty and anguish for athletes. The first part of the equation was addressed when the IOC and our Tokyo friends agreed on postponing the Games by one year.
"What this does is address the other part of the problem for our athletes and their sports by ensuring that they can leave no stone unturned in pursuing the best possible preparation.
"There are a lot of relieved athletes and sports administrators out there today," Mr Coates said.
Mr Coates also congratulated Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) Chair Geoff Henke AO, for his considerable efforts in securing an additional $800,000 for the enhancement of winter acrobatic training facilities around Australia, including the soon-to-be-opened international water ramp facility in Brisbane.
"Again, I welcome the Federal Government’s commitment to our winter sports athletes. It’s a great credit to Geoff Henke who has worked tirelessly to ensure funding could be found to further develop Australia’s stature in Winter Olympic sports," Mr Coates concluded.
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