AUSSIES PREPARE FOR BATTLE OF LONDON
OLYMPICS, May 16: AOC President, John Coates has challenged his member Olympic sports to "deliver the goods in London" after receiving millions of dollars in funding from Federal Government funding to prepare for the 2012 Games.
Speaking at the AOC Annual General Meeting in Sydney, Coates said "the worry of funding is now behind us" and it is now up to the athletes and national federations to deliver the Team objective of placing in the top five nations on the overall medal standings.
The great sporting rivalry between Australian and British sporting teams is nothing new and Olympic medal studies show that beating Great Britain at their home Games means a top five placing would need to be achieved.
"I think we can give it a real shake for 4th or 5th", Coates said. "It will really depend on the events coming up this year. We have to narrow the gap."
In 2010 Benchmark Studies Australia dropped to 8th on the overall medal tally, with 42 medals compared to Great Britain which was 4th with 48.
"We can expect that the "home" Games will see Great Britain medalling in more sports. We medalled in 16 sports in 1999 and 20 in 2000, but have settled back to 11 in 2010," Coates said.
"Great Britain may also produce a significant improvement between 2010 and 2011 (we improved from 52 medals in 1998 to 60 in 1999)."
"Clearly the super sports powers - the more populous China, USA and Russia, will again finish in the top 3 places."
"And while there is a group of 5 NOCs (National Olympic Committees) - namely Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan and Australia which have been competing for 4th and 5th since 1996, I think it is a near certainty that if any of the group finish ahead of Great Britain, they will finish in the Top 5 on the overall medal tally."
Coates highlighted 10 multi-event or medal sports which, based on recent performances, seem likely to determine the outcome and they are Athletics, Canoeing, Cycling, Diving, Equestrian, Gymnastics, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting and Swimming.
"In addition we are both strong in Triathlon, we have medalled in tennis at all but the last Olympics since the sport was reintroduced in 1988, and have strong medal chances in the team sports of Women's Basketball, Men's Hockey and Water Polo."
There are some scintillating head-to-head clashes between Australian and British athletes for London 2012. Anna Meares versus Victoria Pendleton in track cycling, Matthew Mitcham versus Tom Daley in diving, the ‘new' Oarsome Foursome versus Great Britain in rowing and the Australian Sailing Team versus the British Sailing Team.
The 2011 World Swimming Championships in Shanghai this July will provide a strong indication of how Australia will fare in 2012. Swimmers won a record 20 medals for Australia in 2008 of the total 46.
Over 950 athletes have been identified by national federations as prospective Team members for London. The final Team is expected to be 430 athletes with the hard work and countdown continuing.
Media release issued by the AOC