Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates "expressed his disappointment" at the government's funding decision for Olympic athletes in the federal budget, according to ABC. The government confirmed on Tuesday that the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games would get another A$50M ($37M) of federal support from the budget, but "there was nothing for the nation's Olympians." More than A$34M ($25M) of the budget funding is to "help ensure the safety and security of athletes and spectators at next April's Commonwealth Games." In a statement, Coates said, "While I am sure the 20 Commonwealth Games sports and their athletes will be pleased with the additional one-off funding of A$15.5 million ($11.4M) for their preparation it's a pity this assistance is not permanent. With less than one year to go to the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, I'm very disappointed that there is no indication of similar additional assistance for the Olympic winter sports, many of which are currently receiving nothing" (ABC, 5/9).
WINTER SPORTS CUTS: In Sydney, Nicole Jeffery reported the Australian winter sports team is "coming off its best international season," having won five world championship medals and a record 35 World Cup medals. But the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia will receive "about half the funding of summer sports with similar medal returns." OWIA CEO Geoff Lipshut said, "They know we are underfunded and that makes it hard for us to employ the right coaches. You can’t buy athletes but you can buy coaches, and that’s one of the few things that makes a material difference to performance." AOC CEO Matt Carroll will meet Sports Minister Greg Hunt in Canberra on Wednesday and "will begin to make the case for extra funding" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 5/11).
