AUSSIE CHALLENGE TO RAIN ON BRIT'S 2012 PARADE
AOC, 
May 17: Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates has said the challenge for the Australian Olympic team would be to "rain on Great Britain's parade" at the 2012 London Olympics.
Coates addressed the AOC Annual General Meeting in Sydney on Saturday and said it had budgeted $36m to prepare and send the Australian Olympic Team of approximately 430 athletes to London for the 2012 Games and at this point $31.6m has been raised through corporate sponsorship.
Coates played to the meeting a DVD outlining progress of the London 2012 Games hosted by his friend, Great Britain's Sydney Olympic triple jump champion, Jonathan Edwards.
In it Edwards was buoyant about Team GB's medal chances at their home Games.
Renewing the old rivalry, Coates said the challenge for Our Team would be to "rain on their parade".
In Beijing, the Brits finished one place ahead of Australia in fourth place on the overall medal tally with a total of 47 (19 gold, 13 silver and 15 bronze) with Australia fifth on 46 (14 gold, 15 silver, 17 bronze).
The USA topped the overall medal tally with 110 with host nation China taking home the most gold with 51.
A host Games does bring out the best in the home team with Australia fourth in Sydney 2000 on 58 medals (16 gold, 25 silver, 17 bronze) to Britain's 28 (11, 10 and eight) for 10th.
Athens also saw Australia maintain fourth position with for 49 (17, 16, 16) medals ahead of Britain 40 (9, 9, 12) for 10th - so the challenge is on for the Australian team to maintain it's momentum.
Coates praised Federal Sports Minister, Kate Ellis' stance to continue to support sport at all levels with the $195 million increase in funding and he told the Meeting the Government's "razor gang" had worked hard to find savings but Ellis came up with the cash for sport.
He said the funding boost would get more Australians active.
"It is to be delivered in a series of initiatives that will increase the number of Australians participating in sport, strengthen sporting pathways for up and coming athletes and, of critical importance, contribute to Australia sustaining the Olympic, Paralympic and other international sporting success we have enjoyed over the last 15 years through to Rio in 2016, and hopefully beyond," Coates said.
Coates stressed the Government money would be distributed to the sports by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) - the AOC does not receive Government money and it has no say in its distribution.
Australia's Olympic athletes have also received $63m in funding since 2001 - this money is interest earned from the $88m "legacy" of the Sydney 2000 Games.
The Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF) invests the money and interest earned is distributed to the AOC and in turn to the athletes.
- $26.7 million for the 2001-2004 quadrennium;
- $28.4 million for the 2005-2008 quadrennium.
- $ 6.3 million in 2009
- $ 1.6 million for the 1st quarter of this year
Total $63.0 million
A further $17.38 million and total of $25.18 million is budgeted to be received by the AOC from the Foundation over the 2009-2012 quadrennium. This money will assist athletes competing in London.
Coates also outlined plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics in September.
The overflow at Sydney Olympic Park will become Cathy Freeman Park and she will relight the Olympic Cauldron as part of the celebration.
Also there will be the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the contribution of the late IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch's success of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
And a reunion and party for Sydney 2000 volunteers - the heart and soul of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Press Release issued by AOC