LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF AOC FOR MONTGOMERY & WENDEN

May 9: Olympians Michael Wenden and Peter Montgomery have been awarded life membership of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) after decades of distinguished service to the Movement.

Wenden a dual gold medallist in swimming at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and Montgomery a four-time Olympian in water polo received the honour at the AOC's Annual General Meeting in Sydney today. 

Both men have devoted twenty years service to the AOC Executive with Wenden retiring this year. "Our involvement has been honorary, as volunteers, in an era of increasing focus on the employment arrangements of sporting officials we simply wanted to give something back" Wenden said.

In acknowledging their contribution AOC President John Coates said "After their sporting careers ended Michael and Peter devoted much of their time to the Olympic movement, they were appointed to senior administrative positions with Australian Olympic Teams and played key roles in the decision making processes of the AOC at the Boardroom level".

"They have both been extremely committed to the Movement and more importantly they have worked tirelessly on behalf of the Olympic athletes who have followed them over the past twenty years" Coates said.

"Montgomery competed at Munich (1972), Montreal (1976) Moscow (1980) Los Angeles (1984 as captain).  He was a Deputy Chef de Mission in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).   He was elected Chairman of the first AOC Athletes Commission in 1984 and became an AOC Executive Board member in his own right in 1990 and has been an AOC Vice-President since 2001 and has been reelected until 2013.  He became a member of the IOC Athletes Commission in 1988 resigning in 1999 in order to clear the way for the election of another Australian (Susie O'Neill) at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

He was the Foundation President of the World Olympians Association (WOA)

(1995 - 1999) and was the Honorary Secretary of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee 1984 - 1992.   Montgomery was a member of the Sydney 2000 Bid Committee 1991 - 1993 and the IOC Coordination Commissions 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2000 Olympic Games.  He has also been closely involved with the sport of water polo as a Founder, Treasurer, Vice-President and Life member of the Australian Water Polo Inc. 1982 - 2009.  He was also a foundation member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport from 1995 to 2001.

"It has been a great honour to serve the AOC and I will now be able to serve it for the rest of my life" Montgomery said.

Wenden competed at two Olympics (68/72) winning four medals, two gold, a silver and a bronze. He worked in team administration at the Seoul (1988) and Barcelona (92) Olympics, and was an Assistant Chef de Mission in Atlanta (96) Sydney (2000), Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008)

"During this period the AOC has made great strides in corporate governance, financial security and the fight against drugs. Most gratifying to me, however, have been the significant advances in athlete support, and the AOC's ability to enhance athletes' positive Olympic experiences" Wenden said.

Wenden worked on the Brisbane's bid to host the Olympic Games. Both men have been Board members of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)

Other Life Members of the AOC are:
Honorary Life President
Sydney B Grange AO OBE MVO (deceased)
Thomas Blue AM BEM (deceased)
Jack Howson OBE JP
Eric McRae MBE (deceased)
Julius Patching AO OBE (deceased)
Arthur Tunstall OBE JP
William J Young AM MBE (deceased)
William Uren CBE (deceased)
Geoffrey J Henke AO
Phillip W Coles AM
R Kevan Gosper AO
John D Coates AC
John Devitt AM
Sir Donald Trescowthick AC KBE