Dual Olympic rowing gold medallist Nick Green will lead the Australian Olympic Team to the 2012 Games in London following his appointment as Chef de Mission today.
The AOC Executive Board endorsed Green’s appointment at a meeting in Melbourne.
Dual Olympic rowing gold medallist Nick Green will lead the Australian Olympic Team to the 2012 Games in London following his appointment as Chef de Mission today.
The AOC Executive Board endorsed Green’s appointment at a meeting in Melbourne.
Green, a member of the famous Oarsome Foursome, will also be Chef de Mission of the Australian Team competing at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010.
The AOC President, John Coates, said “Nick was an outstanding athlete and the leadership qualities he has displayed as President of the Victorian Olympic Council for the last four years and in his professional life make him a logical choice for the role”.
Coates, who has been Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team at the past six summer Olympic Games, hinted he was preparing to step aside during the Beijing Olympics in August.
‘I was 38 when I took my first Olympic Team to Seoul in 1988 and I believe it is time to give a younger person a go. Nick’s appointment represents a generational change in the leadership of our Teams. He would like to remain AOC President.
“If re-elected I very much look forward to continuing to serve the Olympic Movement” he said. Since Beijing, Coates discussed the need for generational change at the AOC with his Vice President, Peter Montgomery, a four-time Olympian in Water Polo.
“Peter declined my proposal for him to be Chef in London impressing on me the need for more rapid change. We agreed it was time for a much younger person to assume the role”. Coates believes the Australian athletes will relate better to a younger team leader.
“I liken these changes to corporate life where increasingly CEO’s and their management teams are at an age which is relevant to their staff”.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is also encouraging National Olympic Committees to provide younger leaders and younger team management.
“At 41 Nick will have the benefit of the experience of Kevan Gosper and myself, hopefully we are still considered wise heads on old shoulders”.
The AOC will take a young team to Singapore for the Youth Olympic Games in 2010. The Executive today appointed 33 year old Fiona de Jong as Deputy Chef de Mission and Chief Operating Officer for that Team. De Jong is currently AOC Director of Sport.
Coates said he and Green would work progressively on recommendations for senior team management appointments for London 2012.