AOC President John Coates has praised Federal Sports Minister, Kate Ellis, for obtaining an extra $195m in this week’s budget when other minsters were getting a spending “haircut”.

Coates told the AOC Annual General Meeting in Sydney today the Government’s “razor gang” has worked hard to find savings but Ellis came up with the cash for sport.

Coates said the funding boost would get more Australians active.

“It is to be delivered in a series of initiatives that will increase the number of Australians participating in sport, strengthen sporting pathways for up and coming athletes and, of critical importance, contribute to Australia sustaining the Olympic, Paralympic and other international sporting success we have enjoyed over the last 15 years through to Rio in 2016, and hopefully beyond,” Coates said.

Coates stressed the Government money would be distributed to the sports by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).

The AOC does not receive Government money and it has no say in its distribution.

The AOC has budgeted $36m to prepare and send the Australian Olympic Team of approximately 430 athletes to London for the 2012 Games. At this point $31.6m has been raised through corporate sponsorship.

Olympic athletes have also received $63m in funding since 2001. This money is interest earned from the $88m “legacy” of the Sydney 2000 Games. The Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF) invests the money and interest earned is distributed to the AOC and in turn to the athletes.

• $26.7 million for the 2001-2004 quadrennium;
• $28.4 million for the 2005-2008 quadrennium.
• $ 6.3 million in 2009
• $ 1.6 million for the 1st quarter of this year
  Total $63.0 million

A further $17.38 million and total of $25.18 million is budgeted to be received by the AOC from the Foundation over the 2009-2012 quadrennium. This money will assist athletes competing in London.

Coates played to the meeting a DVD outlining progress of the London 2012 Games hosted by his friend Great Britain’s Sydney Olympic triple jump champion, Jonathan Edwards.

In it Edwards was buoyant about Team GB’s medal chances at their home Games.

Renewing the old rivalry Coates said the challenge for our Team would be to “rain on their parade”.

Coates also outlined plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics in September. The overflow at Sydney Olympic Park will become Cathy Freeman Park and she will relight the Olympic Cauldron as part of the celebration.

Also there will be the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the contribution of Juan Antonio Samaranch to the success of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

And a reunion and party for Sydney 2000 volunteers – the heart and soul of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

To read the entire speech of John Coates click below:

AOC President John Coates' AGM Speech 

AOC