Australian Olympic Committee


The Australian Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee responsible for developing, promoting and protecting the Olympic Movement in Australia. The AOC has the exclusive responsibility for the representation of Australia at the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games and at Regional Games patronised by the International Olympic Committee. All National Olympic Committees are constituents of the International Olympic Committee.

Organisation

The Australian Olympic Committee is composed of 35 member National Sport Federations representing each sport on the Olympic program for the Summer Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games. The AOC is represented in each State and Territory in Australia through State Olympic Councils who are responsible for promoting the Olympic ideals and values and raising funds for the Australian Olympic Teams.
The AOC is responsible for selecting the Team that represents Australia at the Olympic Games, after considering nominations by each National Sport Federation.
The AOC Executive comprises the President since 1990 John Coates, Vice-Presidents Helen Brownlee and Ian Chesterman, chief executive officer Matt Carroll and members Matt Allen, Mark Arbib, Craig Carracher, Kitty Chiller, Evelyn Halls, Steve Hooker, Catherine Fettell and Michael Murphy.
John Coates and James Tomkins are current IOC members. John Coates has been a member since 2001, served on the Executive Board from 2009 – 2013 and was elected Vice-president in 2013. James Tomkins has been a member since 2013.
Patron in Chief is the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General David Hurley, and Patron is the Prime Minister of Australia, currently The Hon Scott Morrison MP.
The AOC has an Athletes' Commission, responsible for advising the AOC Executive on all matters pertaining to the Olympic Movement from an athletes perspective. The Commission is made up of 11 members, all Olympians who have been elected by their Olympic teammates during a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. The Chairperson is Steve Hooker who also has a seat on the AOC Executive. Deputy Chairperson is Kim Brennan and remaining members are Alana Boyd, Cate Campbell, Scott Kneller, Jamie Dwyer, Jessica Fox, Lydia Lassila, James Tomkins, Ken Wallace and Shelley Watts.

History

Australia was represented by Edwin Flack at the 1896 Athens Olympics. Flack won two gold medals. In 1905, Richard Coombes became Australia's first International Olympic Committee member when he replaced New Zealander Leonard Cuff who represented Australasia. In 1914, the Olympic Federation of Australia and New Zealand was established. In 1920, New Zealand leaves the OFANZ and the Australian Olympic Council was established with James Taylor being its first president. In 1923, Australian Olympic Council changed its name to the Australian Olympic Federation. In 1990, the AOF rescinded its constitution and became the Australian Olympic Committee.
Australia has hosted two Summer Olympics: 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics. Brisbane, Queensland made at bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics and Melbourne, Australia made a bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Administration

Presidents/Chair

*As of 2015 Secretary General position is now chief executive officer

International Olympic Committee members

, Richard Coombes,
James Taylor, Sir Harold Luxton, Hugh R Weir,, Lewis Luxton, David H Mckenzie, Kevan Gosper,, Phillip W Coles, Susan O'Neill,, John D Coates, James Tomkins

Funding

The AOC is a non-profit organisation responsible for the preparation and participation of Australian Teams at the Olympic Games, the Youth Olympic Games and Regional Games.
The AOC is not government funded. The AOC sources its revenues primarily through Sponsorship, Licensing, Fundraising activities and grants from the International Olympic Committee known as Olympic Solidarity. Through the organisation of the State Olympic Councils, Team Appeal Committees across Australia plan corporate events to achieve a national fundraising target. The AOC also receives income distributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation.
The AOC neither seeks or derives any funding from the Australian Government. The Commonwealth Government, through the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport, is the major funding source for high performance sport in Australia. The ASC/AIS, and State Institutes and Academies of Sport provide critical assistance to the AOCs member National Sport Federations and to athletes directly for their preparation for the Olympic Games.
In the period 2013–2016, the total AOC quadrennial funding of its Olympic programs is budgeted for in excess of $42 million. This funding included sports on the program of the 2016 Summer Olympics, sports on the programs for the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Winter Games and Olympic Education.

International Olympic Committee members

, Richard Coombes,
James Taylor, Sir Harold Luxton, Hugh R Weir,, Lewis Luxton, David H Mckenzie, Kevan Gosper,, Phillip W Coles, Susan O'Neill,, John D Coates, James Tomkins