Well as usual the Australian summer has packed a sporting punch. There’s been too many successful events to name, but I have been lucky enough to see many of our champions in action. 

With the London Games looming, the Australian Government recently announced $640,000 in additional funding through the Green and Gold Project to assist Australian athletes and teams in their Olympic preparation.  With this most recent injection of funding, the Government has now allocated almost $4.5 million in additional funding to assist Olympic and Paralympic athletes to succeed in London.  These athletes and teams will also benefit from some of the world’s best coaching and sports science knowledge and expertise developed and enhanced by the AIS. 

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has also been involved in some exciting initiatives to improve participation in Australian sport. 

In the lead up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Prime Minister is challenging young Australians to try a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports.

These challenges are aimed at encouraging primary school aged children to participate in sport from 28 May 2012 until the conclusion of the Olympics and Paralympics respectively.

The opportunity is there for schools, after-school care centres, sporting organisations and individuals to participate in the PM’s challenge - please encourage kids, parents and teachers to get involved. 

The Active After-school Communities program is helping to coordinate a range of local sporting activities to improve the participation of children in sport and physical activity.   
This will involve hosting ‘Mini-Olympic Days’ or other community events at up to 150 sites around Australia to profile the Challenges and encourage children to join a sporting club.

As you know, the Hon Mark Arbib, the former Minister for Sport, resigned from Parliament earlier this month.  We thank him for his tremendous support and contribution to Australian sport.

The Prime Minister announced the appointment of Senator the Hon Kate Lundy as the new Minister for Sport.  On behalf of all the ASC, I welcome Senator Lundy and look forward to working with her for the benefit of Australian sport.

Simon Hollingsworth
ASC CEO