Aussie Olympic and Sporting Communities Raise Funds for Bushfire Victims

The Victoria bushfires is the worst peacetime disaster in Australian history. (Getty Images)The Australian Olympic and sporting communities have united to raise funds for the victims of the devastating bushfires sweeping the southern state of Victoria.

Citing a responsibility to their community, the Australian Olympic Committee made a $65,000 donation to the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund. Launched by Victorian Premier John Brumby in partnership with the federal government and the Red Cross, the fund is designed to assist those affected by the fires.

“We have a special relationship with the people of Victoria who have a unique love of sport," AOC President John Coates said. "They have produced a great many of our Olympians; hosted an Olympic Games in their capital, Melbourne; and always supported our Olympic Teams and Olympic Team Fundraising Appeals.”

Coates noted that Victorian support of fundraising appeals for the Australian Olympic Team comes not only from “the big end of town at our Prime Minister's Olympic Team Dinner every four years." AOC President John Coates says the Olympic community has a responsibility to its community. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)

“Importantly, it also comes from those across regional Victoria who are the ones now themselves most affected by the devastation of these bushfires,” he added.

Various sporting federations are also raising funds for the brushfire victims.

The Australian Football League joined forces with Telstra Dome in Melbourne to stage a bushfire appeal game on Friday night which is expected to raise at least $650,000.

Australian cricket players have announced they will donate their collective match fees, about $44,000. T hey will also hold an auction of signed playing shirts after Friday's series-ending, one-day match in Brisbane.

Cricket Australia plans to contribute $65,000. The one-day series' major sponsor, Commonwealth Bank, has committed $650,000 upfront, as well as $65 for every run scored today and $650 for every six.

Football Federation Australia has announced it will also donate $65,000 to bushfire victims. Both the Socceroos and the four A-League clubs competing in the semifinals will wear black armbands in their matches.

The FFA is also offering match tickets for affected families, firefighters and other emergency services workers and has committed to replacing damaged football equipment at local clubs and schools.

“We hope that these gestures, while very small, can help bring some relief to the people who have lost so much andAFL joined with Telstra Dome in Melbourne for an appeal game which is expected to raise $650,000. (Getty Images)to the courageous men and women who have been working tirelessly to help them,” FFA chief executive Ben Buckley says.

“We want to let them know that everyone involved in football is thinking of them.”

The Australian Rugby Union says it has already agreed with all four domestic Super 14 provinces to arrange collections for the appeal during the first three games of the season and is exploring other opportunities to assist.

A collection for bushfire victims among boxing fans is planned for the World Boxing Association international middleweight title fight between Anthony Mundine and Shannan Taylor at WIN Entertainment Center in Wollongong.

The Victorian racing industry has planned a series of fundraising efforts at metropolitan and country meetings, with more than $130,000 already pledged from industry participants.

With the death toll expected to exceed 230, the destruction caused by the fires is the worst peacetime disaster in Australian history.

Written by Anthony Stavrinos

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