AOC President Ian Chesterman has highlighted a year with strong growth and initiatives in the AOC’s community programs, the development of an outstanding leadership team as preparations advance for Paris 2024, excellent results for the Australian team at the Pacific Games in Solomon Islands, the development of a strong legacy strategy for Brisbane 2032 and a robust financial performance with surplus for the year of $4 million.

“The AOC is working hard to support our member sports as they prepare Australia’s athletes for an Olympic year and the spirit of cooperation and detailed work with our members has been outstanding.

“We thank the Federal Government for the additional $20 million Cost of Qualification funding made available to our sports to help cover the spiralling costs of getting athletes to Paris 2024 qualifying events around the world. We are on track for one of our largest away teams ever.

“The core leadership team for Paris is firmly in place with our Chef de Mission Anna Meares now strongly supported with the appointment of an excellent group of Deputies in Ken Wallace, Bronwen Knox, Kaarle McCullogh, Mark Knowles and Kyle Vander-Kuyp. All are Olympians and are outstanding leaders in their own right.

“There’s an immense amount of work being undertaken to ensure we provide the best possible high-performance environment for our athletes for when they are in Paris,” Chesterman said.

The AOC has expanded its commitments to spreading Olympism in the community in 2023 and this outreach has enjoyed tremendous support from Olympians themselves.

“Through Olympics Unleased, more than 360,000 Australian primary and secondary school students have benefited from Olympians visiting their classrooms and a hearing the powerful message around goal setting and resilience that our athletes deliver. The program is reliant on the enthusiasm of our Olympians and more than 240 athletes have been trained to deliver Unleashed.

“This year we also launched the first Australian Olympic Pathway Schools – a unique designation with seven New South Wales Sports High Schools on board. The initiative will provide programs to help young people focus on their studies while simultaneously forging a pathway in their respective Olympic sports. There is strong interest in other states to expand this program nationally.

“The AOC also launched its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2023. The “Innovate” RAP deepens our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation through sport – through the delivery of practical outcomes that benefits Indigenous Australians.

“Our Indigenous Coaching Scholarship program expanded in 2023 to develop 12 coaches across athletics, swimming and hockey with a groundbreaking trip to Katherine in conjunction with Olympics Unleashed being delivered in the town and surrounding communities.

The 2024 Annual General Meeting will also vote on a small but significant Constitutional change that celebrates the AOC’s commitment to our First Nation’s people. Developed in consultation with the AOC’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, the changes to Clause 6.6 strengthens the original wording from 2015 when the AOC embedded its commitment in a landmark constitutional change.

“The AOC has also been deeply involved in ensuring that Australian sports gets a lasting benefit from the delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“The greatest impact hosting the Games can have is ensuring our sports system thrives. Along with the eight other “Games Delivery Partners”, we have been busy planning a lasting legacy to take us to the Games and for ten years beyond.

“To that end, the AOC will continue to advocate on behalf of our member sports to ensure that investment in Australian sport is bolstered to deliver the many benefits it can deliver.

“We have worked closely with the Australian Sports Commission in developing the Win Well and Play Well strategies and emphasised that investment is needed now, if we are to realise high performance success at Brisbane 2032, along with the contribution sport can make the physical and mental wellbeing of all Australia,” Mr Chesterman concluded.

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll acknowledged a surplus for the year of $4m.

“Our sponsorship revenue increased by $3m from the prior year, off the back of a number of new partnership signings. These new signings, many that extend past the 2024 Paris Games year, are indicative of the continuing strength of the AOC’s commercial program.

“In fundraising, we are very grateful for the ongoing support of the New South Wales and Queensland State governments which between them contributed $1.5m towards our Paris 2024 Team Appeal program.

“While not in this financial reporting period, the AOC is also grateful to the governments of Victoria, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory for their donations in 2024, totalling $1.225m and we are in fruitful discussions with the government of South Australia.

“On the investment income front, the Australian Olympic Foundation delivered a lower return for the year at $6.8m, amid overall market volatility and lower returns from the managed funds,” Mr Carroll concluded.

Mr Carroll also outlined the AOC’s commitment to the Oceania region in a partnership with the Federal Government through PacifcAus Sports to support some 250 athletes from 13 Pacific nations as they prepare for Paris 2024.

The 2024 AOC Annual General Meeting will be held online on Friday 4 May and can be viewed via olympics.com.au

The 2023 Annual Report (Attachment B) can be found here.

The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting can be found here.

Further documents:
Attachment A
Attachment C