As an Olympic Sport Australian Canoeing is a member of the Australian Olympic Committee.
The AOC is committed to the development of Australia''s athletes and encouraging the development of high performance sport through athlete support and funding initiatives. Their role also extends to spreading the Olympic spirit and ideals throughout the wider community, even in the years between Olympic Games.
It is the AOC''s responsibility to select, send and fund Australian Teams to the Olympic Games, the Olympic Winter Games and other competitions patronised by the IOC such as the East Asian Games.
The AOC is an Incorporated Association whose members are the national bodies of sports on the Olympic program. State Olympic Councils represent the AOC in every State and Territory.
The AOC is a non-profit organisation, independent of Government and Government funding other than contributions by State Governments to the Olympic Team Appeal. The funds required for the AOC''s activities are generated through marketing and fundraising programs.
The AOC is committed to the education of Australia''s youth through programs including a School Resource Kit, the annual Pierre de Coubertin Awards and State & National Australian Olympic Academies.
A total of $16 million has been budgeted for the 4 years 2001 to 2004 for funding for National Federations. Funding is provided to assist with the cost of international competition and from 2002, for special projects and equipment.
The AOC provides funding to athletes through two programs. Funding for Medallists and the 2002 and 2004 Olympic Dream Medal Rewards.
Athletes and their coaches who win medals in 2001, 2002 or 2003 at World Championships or other major international events of a comparable standard (and agreed by the AOC as appropriate benchmark events) will be considered for AOC Funding. Athletes who win medals at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games or 2004 Olympic Games are considered for AOC Funding of $10,000, $7,500 and $5,000 for a gold, silver and bronze medal respectively.
The Australian Olympic Committee committed nearly $3 million to stage the first edition of the Australian Olympic Youth Olympics in January 2001 in Sydney. Canoeing was one of the Sports in this first edition.
The main aim of the AYOF, which will be held every two years, is to develop the Olympic stars of the future, and to provide aspiring Olympians a great idea of what the Olympics are all about.
The AYOF incorporates many aspects that athletes will experience in an Olympic Games: Opening and Closing ceremonies, medal presentations, athletes villages and drug testing.
Olympic Communicators, the official Speakers Bureau of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), is operated under license by ICMI Speakers & Entertainers.
Established in 1997, Olympic Communicators provides Australia''s business and broader community groups a chance to access our past and present Olympians.
Athletes have countless stories to entertain, motivate and inspire. They are remarkable Australians with unique experiences and qualities that touch the imagination and are a source of pride to us all. They are continually required to speak in a broad range of environments, from guest appearances at functions to engagements for charitable and educational bodies, as well as keynote presentations at corporate conferences.
Olympic Communicators is a non profit business that, in addition to providing important income to Athletes, contributes a percentage of each engagement towards supporting Australia''s current and future Olympians.
For all booking enquiries please contact Olympic Communicators on 1800 062 906.
Once an Olympian, always an Olympian. This phrase captures the spirit of the Olympians Clubs established in each state and territory to bring together Olympians in Australia.
Amongst its objects is to promote Olympism by undertaking and supporting activities which will progress the Olympic movement in Australia.
The role of the AOC''s Athletes Commission is to advise the AOC Executive on all matters relating to the Olympic Movement from an athlete''s perspective.
Eight members of the AOC Athlete''s Commission were elected by the members of the 2000 Australian Olympic Team during the 2000 Olympic Games. The AOC Executive appointed a further two Olympians from sports on the Winter Program. These positions are subject to a vote by athletes of the 2002 Winter Olympic Team at the time of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Susie O Neill, as a member of the IOC AthletesCommission, also retains a position on the AOC Athlete''s Commission.
Damian Brown is chair and Jacqui Cooper is Deputy Chair, and in these roles both also sit as members of the AOC Executive Board.
There are currently no Canoeists on the Commission.
The OWI was established by the AOC in 1998 under the name of the Australian Institute of Winter Sport with the aim of developing and preparing elite Australian athletes for their participation in Olympic Winter Games, World Championships and World Cups, and to assist with the development of high performance coaches in the winter sports.
Scholarships are being provided to athletes who are currently competing at or have the potential to compete at World Cup/World Championship level and who are considered to have the potential to achieve a medal result at the 2002 or 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
To be run in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission, this program aims to mobilise Olympians into worthwhile community projects. The many talented young athletes to emerge from the Sydney and previous Olympic Games provide positive role models for school, youth and community programs.
Australian Olympic Committee
PO Box 312
St Leonards NSW 1590
Tel: (02) 8436 2100
Fax: (03) 8436 2198
Visit their website:
www.olympics.com.au
