The President of the AOC, John Coates, is confident Australia’s swimmers will be a force at the 2016 Rio Olympics. As part of his President’s Review in the AOC’s Annual Report, Coates says
AOC: The President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), John Coates, is confident Australia’s swimmers will be a force at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
As part of his President’s Review in the AOC’s Annual Report, Coates says “we remain confident that our swimmers can return to the top few nations in Olympic competition”.
“While much has been made of our swimmers’ performance, behaviour and the governance of the sport, swimming has been by far the major contributor to our Olympic medal tally and the sport deserves our full support”.
The AOC is planning at this early stage to send a Team of 480 athletes to Rio which would include the new sports of golf and rugby 7’s.
“Our objective again is to finish in the top five nations on the gold and overall medal standings and I am pleased that the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) shares this target in Australia’s Winning Edge 2012-2022 plan released by ASC Chairman, John Wylie last December,” Coates said.
“I fully support the thrust of Winning Edge with its unapologetic emphasis on producing champions”.
Coates also has high expectations for the Australian Team at next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
“With the inclusion of ski and snowboard slopestyle events our Team could number between 55 and 60 athletes, considerably more that the 40 who competed for Australia in both Torino 2006 and Vancouver 2010”.
“Our objective is to improve from our 18th position in Vancouver and finish within the top 15 nations on the medal tally”.
To do this Australia would need to win 4 or 5 medals, a record for an Australian Winter Olympic Team.
To read the AOC’s Annual Report and all 2013 AGM documentation click here>>>
