Matt Carroll says Australian Olympic sports need a cash injection
THE prospect of Australia producing any future Olympic heroes is on life support unless the Federal Government commits an extra $60m per year in funding.
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THE prospect of Australia producing any future Olympic heroes is on life support unless the Federal Government commits an extra $60m per year in funding.
That’s the confronting warning from Australian Olympic Commitee CEO Matt Carroll who has also stated Olympic sports in Australia are at risk of losing all relevance because there is not enough money to currently support the government’s recently announced - Sport 2030 - National Sport Plan.
Addressing the National Press Club on Wednesday, Carroll also confirmed in his speech that there would be no medal tally forecast for the Australian team ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Carroll said that through sponsorships, IOC broadcast revenue, solidarity grants, donations and distributions form the Australian Olympic Foundation, the AOC invests $35.6m to support athletes
But in the wake of the government’s strategic plan, Sport 2030 - which focused on the importance of sport and pursuit of excellence within the Australian community - Carroll said, without extra funding “the Plan won’t succeed and...Australia will be the loser.’’
“If the funding trend continues for Olympic sports – results at Games will decline, and in time so will participation, leading to a very small talent pool and therefore relevance as a sport,’’ Carroll said.
“This once great sporting nation – so proud of its diversity, punching above its weight, will be confined to a few sports played by only a few and the rest will be faded pictures of past heroes.
“The only gold medals won will be the races to the most obese nation and social mediocrity.
“This is not hysteria – this is fact.
“Today, we are calling on the Government to commit an extra $60m per year for Olympic and Paralympic sports participation and performance.
“Again, not for us, the AOC – this is directly for the sports and their athletes
“In the scheme of the Federal budget of some $488 billion, this is not a lot of money.
“If Australians want international sporting success then like any industry, sport requires knowledge to stay at the front of the pack.
“The importance of sports science, sports medicine and technology in contributing to winning performances is clear.
“Australia once led this field when the AIS was a first in international sport.
“Now through deliberate funding neglect, the AIS is no longer preeminent. Is that where Australia wants to be? Second, third, way back in the field?
“This modest increase will provide for some sports simply an additional person to drive participation, a quality coach, an education program or an overseas competition to develop an aspiring talent.
Take for example Chloe Esposito, our Modern Pentathlon gold medallist in Rio. Chloe is the perfect example of what can be achieved with some funding.
“An increase would provide opportunity for more Chloes.”
More immediately, Carroll also answered the question of “What will success in Tokyo look like for the AOC?”
“The medal tally alone? No,’’ Carroll aid.
“In fact, I can tell you we will not be setting any medal targets for Tokyo 2020.
“We’ve listened to the athletes who’ve told us medal targets don’t help them prepare for competition.
“I don’t hear a footy coach calling the score before kick-off at the Grand Final.
“But make no mistake, we are striving to provide the Team with the environment to achieve their very best.
“If that’s a medal, we’ll all celebrate the achievement.’’
Carroll also confirmed Queensland were “well placed” to launch a hosting bid for the 2038 Olympics while also unveiling a new schools program that will see past and present Olympians and Paralympians visit 9,400 schools across the country in a bid to inspire.
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Originally published as Matt Carroll says Australian Olympic sports need a cash injection
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