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Australia counts down to London 2012

 

Australia counts down to London 2012

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AOC
Australia counts down to London 2012

With just one year to go until the world’s biggest sporting event hits London, Australia’s best athletes are gearing up for the 30th edition of the modern Olympic Games where they will look to beat the clock, beat their personal bests and of course, beat the Brits.

With just one year to go until the world’s biggest sporting event hits London, Australia’s best athletes are gearing up for the 30th edition of the modern Olympic Games where they will look to beat the clock, beat their personal bests and of course, beat the Brits.

With the countdown to the Games now ticking, Australia’s goal of finishing in the top five of the overall medal tally remains.

“World sport superpowers China, USA and Russia are destined to take the top three places, leaving us locked in a battle with Great Britain, Germany, France and Japan for fourth and fifth,” Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said.

“Great Britain finished one medal ahead of Australia in Beijing,” Coates said. “Their 'home' Games will likely have them medalling in more sports and winning more medals.”

Australia’s friendly rivalry with Great Britain has never been stronger, but as the Games draw near, the Australian athletes are very much focused on their own performances and the pathway leading to the London Games.

“One year to go signifies in the athletes’ minds, a very important milestone,” 2012 Australian Team Chef de Mission Nick Green said.

“They are starting to fine-tune their position on the world’s calendar in terms of their performance and their preparations needed in the next 12 months.”

Competing at events all over the world, Australian athletes are vying for sought after quota places that will hopefully see them selected for the 2012 Games.

As at Monday 25 July 2011, 53 quota places have been secured in cycling, diving, equestrian, modern pentathlon, shooting, swimming and water polo.

Beijing Olympians Melissa Gorman and Ky Hurst were the first athletes to secure their places to compete in London 2012, when they placed in the top five of the 10km open water swimming at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.

As these talented Aussies and the others competing for quota places battle it out against the international competition, it provides a good sign of where the nation stands leading into the Games.

“We have a clear indication of how the Team is performing,” Green said.

“I’m very confident that things are in place for a successful Games - we have the right financial support, we have the right coaches, we have the right knowledge and we are now putting that information into play and allowing the athletes to prepare appropriately.”

As far as funding is concerned, the AOC is on track to raise the $15.3m to prepare the Team and $15.1m to send the Team needed for London 2012. The Team is close to reaching its sponsorship target of $39 million with Coles being the most recent partner to come on board as the official supermarket of the Australian Olympic Team.

Additionally, Australian Olympic Team sponsor adidas has, with the AOC, awarded athletes $3.5 million in Medal Incentive Funding over the 2009-2012 period so far.

Confident of this financial readiness and in taking the best possible Team to the Games, Green is also impressed with the progress that he has seen in the host city.

“With one year to go, the Organising Committee in London is doing a superb job,” Green said.

Construction at Olympic Park is progressing well, with the 80,000-seat stadium and other venues on schedule. Test events are currently underway with 42 events set to form a key part of London 2012's preparations for the Games. Kicking off this week is canoe/kayak slalom at the Lee Valley White Water Centre. Australia’s power sister duo Katrina and Rosyln Lawrence will be looking to prove their mettle in the white water against the world.

“I feel that London is ready with one year to go and it will be one of the best shows in Olympic history,” Green said. “I can’t wait to be part of it.”

Australian Olympic Committee

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