John Coates Wins Early Test for Reelection

(ATR) The Athletes Commission of the Australian Olympic Committee votes to support John Coates for president.

The commission, meeting in Sydney ahead of the May 6 election at the AOC Annual General Meeting, was not unanimous in its support for Coates. A press release did not give a breakdown of the vote among the 11 members. The commission includes IOC member James Tomkins and is chaired by Steve Hooker. Hooker will cast the commission vote Saturday. About 90 votes in all will be cast in the election, the majority representing 40 national governing bodies for sport in Australia.

But while supporting Coates, the commission made it clear in its statement that it supports some of the points raised by Danni Roche, who is the first person to challenge Coates for the AOC presidency in nearly 30 years..

The commission says it consulted with athletes ahead of its decision and received what it called "an unprecedented level of feedback on the role of President and the future of the AOC".

Both Roche and Coates spoke to the commission .

"Danni’s platform has raised a number of issues that we, as an Athletes’ Commission, and the broader athlete population, have passionate views on," says the statement from the commission.

"The overwhelming response from the athlete population and alumni was that there is a desire for change. Opinions differed as to how this change should best be achieved," says the statement.

The commission says it wants "a balanced, independent and collaborative Executive Board" and endorses Andrew Plympton to one of the vice presidential slots. Plympton is a leading backer of Roche.

In its decision the athletes commission says it supports the transition to a non-executive presidency supported by a strong Executive Board.

The commission also says it backs a review of the compensation package for the president. Coates is under fire for the $AU 730,000 he receives for his work as president . The athletes commission says "remuneration should be commensurate with the role undertaken".

Coates has said that this would be his final term in office if he is reelected. Should that happen, the athletes commission says it would like to see "a planned and strategic transition of John Coates out of the Presidency".

The commission says that the succession plan should "cultivate a number of candidates who the sports can vote on at a future AGM.

"This succession plan should involve John Coates sharing his knowledge and mentoring the next generation of leaders within the Australian Olympic family," says the commission statement.

The commission also says it will support whoever wins the vote in Sydney two days from now.

Written by Ed Hula.

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