The Australian Olympic Committee has awarded the Order of Merit to the Federal Sports Minister Rod Kemp and former Fraser Government Minister Bob Ellicott QC.

Announcing the awards the AOC President John Coates said “both recipients have made a remarkable contribution to the development of sport in Australia."

He said Rod Kemp who is one of the longest serving Australian Ministers for Sport has made significant achievements particularly in the areas of anti-doping and funding for Olympic athletes, high performance and community sport.

"It was Bob Ellicott’s vision that led to the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra," Coates said.

The awards were presented to Mr Kemp and Mr Ellicott at the Annual General Meeting of the Australian Olympic Committee in Sydney on Saturday.

AOC