An Olympic Medal costs Australian taxpayers "far more than its weight in gold," according to Chip Le Grand of THE AUSTRALIAN. New Australian Sports Commission figures show that in the four years leading up to Rio, A$340M ($257M) of public funds "has been ploughed into" the Australian teams and athletes competing in Rio. If the Australian Olympic Committee’s official forecast of 37 medals for the Rio campaign proves correct, "every medal draped around an Australian will come" with a A$9.2M ($7M) price tag. The ASC, the primary funding body for Australia’s Olympians, has spent A$376.7M ($285M) "on the high performance programs of 35 sports since the London Games." Sailing, Australia’s poster sport from the London Games, has been rewarded with a 44% "funding boost" following its '12 haul of three Gold Medals. Australia’s modern Olympic triumvirate -- swimming, rowing and cycling --- "have all received a generous cash splash" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/2). In London, Murad Ahmed reported British athletes competing in Rio "have received more money to support their training during this Olympic cycle than their London 2012 predecessors," who were given about £314M. UK Sport has "set a target for Team GB to win at least 48 medals this month," which would make it the country's best medal haul at an "away" Olympics. UK Sport CEO Liz Nicholl said, "Investment helped develop a system that delivered medals in London. We all saw and felt the impact, everybody felt proud." Rowing is the best-funded British sport, receiving £32.6M ($43M) in the past four years, "followed by cycling, athletics and sailing." Around half of British medals at the London 2012 Games "were gained from these four sports" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/29).
