Cease Fire in Australian Sports

(ATR) The new CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee sounds a positive note about a proposed National Sports Plan.

"Every athlete, every team, every sport needs a plan to succeed so this initiative is critical for Australia’s sporting future," says Matt Carroll in a statement reacting to the launch of a 10-year plan by federal sports minister Greg Hunt.

"The National Plan will bring clarity on the roles and responsibilities of all the parties involved and establish the support, infrastructure and funding required to achieve the collective sporting outcomes for the country," Carroll says.

The comments from Carroll are the first to be included in an AOC press release since he started work this month, the first release from the AOC on policy matters since the May 6 re-election of John Coates. That controversial election, the first challenge to Coates in 30 years, has drawn assurances that this will be his last term and that he will hand over executive duties to Carroll.

The tone of the AOC press release could be a signal of that change. The statement from Carroll stressed cooperation and steered clear of the confrontation that has at times polarized relations between the Coates-led AOC and the federal government.

"The AOC welcomes the Minister’s initiative," Carroll said.

"The AOC will be fully engaged in thePlan’s development and I will also be encouraging our 40 member sports to also participate and contribute to the formulation of the Plan, giving voice to the great diversity of sports that the Olympics represents," says Carroll.

"The AOC accepts that Australians set high expectations of sport administrators, not just in providing opportunities for athletes to achieve medal success, but in growing participation, ensuring community outcomes in health and education are achieved and importantly setting standards that meet our cultural values. We welcome that the Minister’s National Plan will be addressing all of these aspects," says Carroll.

Carroll comes to the AOC after a 25 year sports administration that includes stints at Sailing Australia, Australian Rugby Union and football.

Carroll has indicated he wants to work with the federal government to strengthen support for sport in Australia. He is keen to defuse the animus between Coates and John Wylie, chair of the Australian Sports Council. The two men have publicly feuded.

The sports plan from Hunt is to be implemented in the budget for 2017-2018 and includes provisions for a national lottery that could earmark $AU 50 million a year for elite sport.

"It's successful, it works, people like the idea of a public-good lottery, and it actually underpins sports funding going forward," the sports minister told a Melbourne radio station.

Written by Ed Hula.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.