Australian Sports Commission (ASC) CEO Mark Peters today praised the Australian Olympic team on its fine performance at the Beijing Olympics.

Peters said Australia’s positive showing in Beijing, where Australia won 14 gold, 15 silver and 17 bronze medals, was a tribute to the continuing support of the Australian Government to developing and maintaining a vibrant sporting system.

‘Australia’s Olympic results are a reflection of our national sporting system which is developed, maintained and continually enhanced by the Australian Sports Commission,’ Peters said.

‘Australian Government support and funding is integral to the viability and effectiveness of the system.’

Peters said the ASC was aware of the sporting challenges ahead, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the 2012 London Olympics.

‘The Beijing Olympics has clearly shown that many of our competitors such as China, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom have reaped the rewards from the considerable investment they have poured into their respective sporting systems,’ Peters said.    

‘The United Kingdom in particular with London hosting the 2012 Olympics has performed well in Beijing backed by considerable Government investment.’

‘This investment in their sports system, along with the active recruitment of Australian experts has been such that they have now overtaken us on the Olympic medal table’

‘If we are to maintain our standing as a top six Olympic nation then we have to start addressing increased participation rates and high performance investment strategies at the same time.’

‘We’ll do that through continued coordinated planning, resourcing and evaluation of the Australian sport system.’

Peters said planning for the London 2012 Olympics had already begun. 

‘The Australian Sports Commission, together with our partners in the Australian sporting system including state and territory institutes/academies, began planning for London three years ago,’ Peters said.

‘We do face some tough decisions going forward, but unless we tackle those issues head on, then Australia runs the risk of slipping further behind our competitors.’

Peters said he was proud of the significant contribution that AIS athletes, coaches and support staff had made to the Australian Olympic team success in Beijing.
‘Approximately 61 per cent of the 435-strong Australian Olympic team were either current or former AIS athletes,’ Peters said.

 ‘In total they have been awarded 102 Olympic medals throughout the Beijing Olympics, which is an outstanding achievement.’

‘Many Australian Olympic medal performances in Beijing were supported by AIS coaches, whilst behind the scenes AIS staff expertise contributed to the Australian Olympic team effort in roles such as nutritionists, physiotherapists, massage therapists, physiologists and a range of important services in Beijing.’

We now look forward to our athletes competing successfully at the Paralympic Games in Beijing next month.