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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 27 October 1999 Issue No. 452
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Aussie power
THE RECENT success of Australian athletes at home and abroad has added to the excitement as the magic moment -- the start of the Sydney Olympics -- draws near.Herb Elliott, director of Athlete and Corporate Relations at the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), said the AOC has been thrilled with the performance of the athletes. "Cathy Freeman did an outstanding job at the World Athletics Championships and the team performed beyond our expectations. Athletics had hoped to win four medals and finish with 12 athletes ranked in the top eight in the world in their individual events. Thirteen athletes actually made it into the top eight, and Australia also achieved an IAAF ranking of seventh in the world," he said.
"The rowing and sailing teams have never performed better," Elliott said. "And the world record shattering performances by our swimmers at the Pan Pacific Games were astounding. We are on track for a big Olympic Games," he added.
The Australian Olympic team, the country's largest ever, will number somewhere between 630 and 650 athletes depending on the number of players who reach the final qualifications in their respective sport.
"We are delighted to be in a position to give so many athletes a chance to represent their country, but we are also mindful that many members of the shadow team will miss out and we are devoting time at team processing sessions to brief athletes on how to deal with that major disappointment," Elliott said.
Team selection announcements will be made over the next 11 months, starting with table tennis later this year and finishing with field hockey, track and field, and equestrian events just three weeks before the Games begin.
The Olympic Job Opportunities Programme is ahead of schedule. The joint partners, Ernst and Young, plus the local organising committee, has set a target of 300 positions to be filled by September 2000. The 300th athlete to be offered a career opportunity with a major Australian corporation will be announced in February, eight months ahead of time.
The AOC's Medal Incentive Scheme for athletes is on target as well. Under the scheme, athletes will receive 22 million Australian dollars over four years to help them prepare for the Games.
