(ATR) The prime minister of Australia is said to back the challenger to John Coates for the presidency of the Australian Olympic Committee.
The Herald-Sun newspaper in Melbourne reports that Malcom Turnbull is believed to favor Danni Roche for the May 6 election. Turnbull has no vote in the AOC election, but probably has some sway over some of the 94 electors who will cast ballots.
Roche, 44, is a field hockey gold medalist from the 1996 Olympics and a business executive. Coates, 66, has held the office since 1990 and has since become one of the leading figures on the IOC. Most notably, he is currently a vice president and chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Coates says he is running for what he says will be his last term. Roche says it is time for a change at the AOC and has assailed the $AU 729,000 compensation package Coates receives.
The veteran sports leader has found himself the butt of criticism as well by major newspaper editorials.
"Time to pass the baton" says an OpEd in the Herald Sun.
"Loss for AOC president John Coates would be a win for our Olympic athletes," says The Age.
"Coates has already spent 27 years as AOC president, a period of time that would seem far too long by any interpretation of reasonable corporate governance. In that time the AOC has been accused of financial largesse for administrators and a lack of funding for athletes. There have also been claims of bullying of female staff by some AOC executives," says the editorial.
Coates has also drawn rebuke for coarse language he admitted to using earlier this year when he encountered the chairman of the Australia Sports Commission, whom Coates regards as a bitter enemy. Besides the crude comment, Coates refused to shake the hand of John Wylie.
"I am who I am. I am someone who always says it like it is. I am not someone who will talk behind someone’s back. I probably could have framed my words better, at the time it seemed appropriate. I had found out John Wylie was seeking support to oust me from my role. My emotions were high. I was justifiably angry," explained Coates last week in an interview with Jessica Halloran in the Daily Telegraph April 15.
He says Wylie is trying to rob the AOC treasury of $AU 146 million.
"It is definitely a grab for cash, it’s an absolute attack on the independence and autonomy of the AOC as a sporting organisation. The Government has a role in funding sport and shouldn’t be trying to raid the funds of an independent organisation. The Olympic movement should always be independent and autonomous of government. It’s all about a takeover of a very successful national Olympic committee," said Coates.
Coates is still believed to have strong support on the AOC Board. On April 2 Athletics Australia said it would back Coates for the presidency. Hockey Australia has backed Roche.
The AOC vote will also select vice presidential and executive board seats in the May 6 secret ballot.
Written by Ed Hula.
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