Sports Advocacy Group

Olympics

Since its inception in the middle of 2008, the Sports Advocacy Group has maintained a strong relationship with the Australian Olympic movement. Sharing values, ideas and a desire to grow sport on all levels. One of the very first dinners hosted at Parliament House for the group was to showcase the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Olympic team following their highly successful campaign at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Since then the group has showcased Winter Sports and the Winter Olympics, hosted a preview dinner prior to the London 2012 campaign and in October, the AOC and the Olympians returned for acelebratory dinner.

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What Did We Talk About?

Over the years the Olympic Dinners have proven fertile ground for some interesting discussions. Such as the best way to judge the success of an Olympics, the importance of medals, DNA testing for athletic talent, representing your country, importance of coaches and how China performed as host nation in the 2008 Olympics. The journey to the London Olympics, the role of Athlete services and team bulding in the Olympic Village, the qualification of the Men's Volleyball team for the 2012 Olympics for only the second time, Lauren Mitchell's preparation for the Games, the importance of mentoring, medal rivalries and what it means to be an Olympian.

For more information about the dinners see here

AOC

The Australian Olympic Committee is custodian of the Olympic Movement in Australia. Their mission involves promoting the Olympic ideals and values to all through sport. As such they fit well as a member of the Sports Advocacy Group, sharing many of their views with the Group.

It is the responsibility of the AOC to encourage the development of high performance sport through athlete support and funding initiatives. But also to spread the Olympic spirit and values throughout the wider community, even in the years between Olympic Games.

The AOC is an independent non-profit organisation. Their funding is derived from income distributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation, grants from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the licensing and sponsorship activities of the AOC and fundraising by the AOC, State Olympic Councils and their Corporate Appeal Committees.

The AOC is involved in many youth education programmes including a school resource kit, the annual Pierre de Coubertin Awards and State & National Australian Olympic Academies.

Past Guests

Summer Olympics and Paralympics:

John Coates, Craig Phillips, Grant Hackett, James Tomkins, Chantelle Newbury, Melissa Ripon, Adam Pine, Nathan Wilmot, Kim Crow, Lauren Mitchell, Danielle Woodward, Igor Yudin, Peggy Liddick, Malcolm Page, Alicia Coutts, Ellie Cole, Murray Stewart, Jared Tallent and Claire Tallent.

Winter Olympics:

Dean Gosper, Michael Kennedy, Steven Bradbury, Nathan Johnstone, Scott Kneller, Lydia Lassila, Jenny Owens, Chumpy Pullin, and Ben Wordsworth.

A.S.P.I.R.E. Values

The A.S.P.I.R.E values have been adopted as the Australian Olympic Team value statement, and enshrined in the Team Agreement, signed by all athletes participating at an Olympic Games. The Sports Advocacy Group fully supports these statements and encourages all to follow such an example.

  1. Attitude – My positive attitude is essential in overcoming obstacles to help me improve and give of my best. My positive attitude is a key ingredient to success and leadership.
  2. Sportsmanship – I recognise that sport is greater than the individual; that cheating reduces the stature of sport and all who love it; that class, race and creed are never factors in the attitude of true sports people and those who respect the virtues and values of sport.
  3. Pride – Pride drives me when the temptation is to settle for something less. I am proud to have been chosen to represent our country.
  4. Individual responsibility – I alone am responsible for my performance but I will be generous in acknowledging the support of others.
  5. Respect – I respect sport, the efforts of my competitors, my team mates and officials. I respect Australia, our Olympic past and the spirit of Olympism.
  6. Express – I have an opinion and will express my view with thought and consideration to others. In showing my emotions I do so with individuality and, where possible, good humour.

via AOC

  1. Sports Advocacy Group
  2. Sports
  3. Olympics