As the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic athletes reflect on their performances at the games, there is one person they should be sure to thank - their coach.

Coaches of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have worked hard to get athletes in a position to perform at their very best. To represent your country at an elite level, takes many years of preparation with the ongoing support and guidance of coaches. Without the expertise and tireless efforts of coaches around the country, our sporting stars of today would not have reached their goals and stars of tomorrow might be lost. 

So a big thank you to the many coaches who have contributed to the performances at the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic games.

While the coaches from the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic teams recover from this major event, many coaches around the country are finishing up this season of sport or are about to embark on a new season of competition.

Be sure to thank your coach for the role they play. Never underestimate how much a simple thanks means to a coach. By thanking your coach, you are recognising the valuable contribution they have made to sport and to athletes.

As part of the Australian Sports Commission’s Thanks program, a range of online tools are available to recognise and reward coaches including, certificates, e-cards and for clubs there are strategies for recruiting and retaining coaches. Also available for purchase are the Thanks reward (memory stick and whistle). See the link below to the Thanks web pages for more details.