The South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) has received formal recognition from the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) as an Olympic Training Centre for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

With exactly one year to go today until the Beijing Olympics, Recreation and Sport Minister Michael Wright has signed an Olympic Training Centre Agreement between SASI and the AOC.

Under the agreement, SASI and the AOC will jointly provide advice and support for all SASI scholarship holders who participate in sports on the Olympic program.

SASI Director Wes Battams said the agreement recognised the work of SASI in preparing South Australian athletes for the Australian Olympic team.

“SASI has been involved in the preparation of athletes in sports on the Olympic program for 25 years,” Mr Battams said.

“SASI has a proud Olympic Games history, with SASI Olympic gold medallists having included the early feats of Glynis Nunn (athletics) and Dean Lukin (weightlifting) at Los Angeles in 1984, to equestrian champions Gillian Rolton and Wendy Schaeffer at Atlanta in 1996, and Simon Fairweather (archery) and Kerri Ann Pottharst (Beach Volleyball) at Sydney in 2000.

“South Australia is optimistic of again being well represented at the Beijing Olympic Games. SASI is hopeful of having more than 30 Olympic and 15 Paralympic team members going to Beijing, as well as a number of coaches and other team staff.”

SASI will fly the Olympic flag at its headquarters at Kidman Park under the new agreement with the AOC.

The President of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates, praised the SA Government for its continued support of SASI.

“SASI continues to develop young athletes who are competing at the elite level, and this could not be done without government support.”

“I hope the title Olympic Training Centre will provide SASI athletes with an added incentive to strive for a place on the Australian Olympic Team in 2008,” Mr Coates said.

SASI / AOC