C/W Games gets $50m, nothing for Olympics

The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games has received $50 million in the 2017 budget but there is no money for the Olympics..

The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will get another $50 million of federal support from the budget, but recently re-elected Olympic chief John Coates is disappointed there was nothing for the nation's Olympians.

More than $34 million of the budget funding is to help ensure the safety and security of athletes and spectators at next April's Gold Coast Games.

The money has been allocated to the Australian Defence Force, which will provide specialist security for the Games.

The federal budget also provides $15.5 million in 2017/18 for the Australian Sports Commission to support Australia's athlete preparation in the lead up to the Games.

But to the disappointment of the Australian Olympic Committee there was nothing for athletes heading into the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea or the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.

"While I am sure the 20 Commonwealth Games sports and their athletes will be pleased with the additional one off funding of $15.5 million for their preparation it's a pity this assistance is not permanent," Mr Coates said in a statement.

"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.

"And there is no indication of any funding for those Summer Olympic sports currently receiving nothing."

Mr Coates said confirmation of the government's plans to establish a National Sport and Heritage Lottery was great news but the AOC had been expecting that it would raise more than the net additional $50 million a year identified.

The debate around Olympic funding caused the rift between ASC President John Wylie and Mr Coates, who narrowly survived an election for his position following an ASC campaign to unseat him.

The budget also included a share of the $11.7 million allocated over two years from 2016/17 for other related services associated with staging the Gold Coast Games.

This measure builds on the $158.5 million provided in the 2014/15 budget offering operation support and funding commitments for the Gold Coast 2018.


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Source: AAP


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