In reaction to the sports funding of the Federal Budget handed down tonight AOC President, John Coates, made the following comments.

While I am sure the 20 Commonwealth Games sports and their athletes will be pleased with the additional one off funding of $15.5 million for their preparation it’s a pity this assistance is not permanent.

With less than one year to go to the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang I’m very disappointed that there is no indication of similar additional assistance for the Olympic winter sports many of which are currently receiving nothing.

And there is no indication of any funding for those Summer Olympic sports currently receiving nothing.

The confirmation of the Government’s plans to establish a National Sport and Heritage Lottery is great news but we had been expecting that it would raise more than the net additional $50 million a year identified. 

John Coates
AOC President
Australian Olympic Committee