Gloves Are Off in AOC Presidential Race

(ATR) Nominations have closed for the upcoming Australian Olympic Committee’s 2017 Annual General Meeting elections, and the stage is set for the first ever challenge to John Coates’ presidency.

Coates, who is also Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, has been a member of the AOC since 1981 and served as its president since 1990, running unopposed at every election since. Among his many achievements for sport in Australia and the Olympic Movement, Coates is perhaps best known for his extraordinary efforts in securing the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games for his country.

The security of his presidency however has become uncertain since Olympic field hockey gold medalist Danni Roche put him on notice last month, voicing her intentions to run against him. Since this public declaration, the gloves have been off and shots have been thrown in equal measure from both the Coates and Roche camps.

In recent months, the disharmony between some of Australia’s national sporting organizations, the government-run Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the AOC, has risen to the surface. Coates is fiercely protective of the AOC’s independence from government and the stoush between him and his ASC counterpart John Wylie has grown exponentially. A war of words published in the media and a very public snubbing of Wylie by Coates has caused voting members to sit up and take notice – and take sides.

According to Roche, change is needed – a fresh outlook in an organization that has prepared teams that have underperformed and been marred by controversy at the past two summer Olympic Games. Her pitch is based first around money, offering to work as president without the AU$750,000 (US$567,052) annual salary that Coates earns – and in turn direct this money back into sport. For the funding-starved sports throughout the country this is a dangling carrot. More than money though, Roche intends to mend the damaged relationship between the AOC and ASC, of which she is a commissioner. She maintains though that she is acting on her own volition, not as a pawn in a power play by Wylie.

Roche has taken a number of hits in the media over the past month, with wide speculation that she is unqualified to take the top job. She is certainly up against a formidable opponent and smart politician in Coates.

AOC executive board member Andrew Plympton this week announced that he has thrown his support behind Roche, and in the nominations released today is officially running to be vice president. He will run against existing vice presidents Helen Brownlee and Ian Chesterman who have been in their positions since 2013 and 2016 respectively.

At the AGM, the member sports will also vote for seven positions for the executive board. Five existing board members will make up a total 11 vying for the roles, with votes set to be split according to their alliances to either Coates or Roche – the AOC or the ASC.

The AGM will take place in Sydney on May 6, with all summer and winter Olympic sports given two votes each, to be cast in a secret ballot.

President Nominees

John Coates

Danni Roche

Vice President Nominees (for two positions)

Helen Brownlee – Vice President since 2013

Ian Chesterman – Vice President since 2016

Andrew Plympton – executive member since 2009

Executive Nominees (for 7 positions – in alphabetical order)

Matt Allen (Sailing)

Mark Arbib (Athletics) – member since 2016

Craig Carracher (Volleyball) – member since 2015

Kitty Chiller (Modern Pentathlon) – member since 2013

Tracey Gaudry (Cycling)

Evelyn Halls (Fencing)

Rechelle Hawkes (Hockey)

David Hynes (Baseball/Softball)

Nicole Livingstone (Swimming) – member since 2013

Michael Murphy (Gymnastics Australia)

Danielle Woodward (Canoeing Australia) – member since 2013

Written by Alice Wheeler

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