Australian Olympic Committee

In 1895, Australasia (a team composed of Australian and New Zealander athletes) achieves recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). One year later, Australasian delegates competed at the 1896 Athens Olympics, with Australia being represented by Edwin Flack. Flack won two gold medals, becoming the first Australian Olympian and the first Australian medallist; their participation marked the beginning of Australia's unbroken representation at the Olympic Games. The AOC's commitment to winter sport saw the formation of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) after Nagano 1998 to enable the development of elite performances in winter sports by Australian athletes. Brisbane, Queensland made a bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics and Melbourne, Australia made a bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Both failed. But, in June 2021, it was announced that Brisbane would host the 2032 Summer Olympics, marking Australia's third hosting of the games. ==Organization==

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is an independent, incorporated not-for-profit organization for the development of youth and sport in Australia. The AOC is responsible (for the International Olympic Committee (IOC)) to develop, promote and protect the Olympic movement in Australia in accordance with the Olympic Charter, and for selecting the Team that represents Australia at the Olympic Games, after considering nominations by each National Sport Federation. The AOC also selects Teams for Youth Olympic Games and Regional Games, such as the Pacific Games. The AOC Executive comprises the President, Ian Chesterman, and Vice Presidents Evelyn Halls and Matt Allen who were elected along with him in 2022. The Chief Executive Officer is Mark Arbib. Patron in Chief is the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General Sam Mostyn, and Patron is the Prime Minister of Australia, currently The Hon Anthony Albanese MP. The AOC has an ''Athletes' Commission'', responsible for advising the AOC Executive on all matters pertaining to the Olympic Movement from an athlete's perspective. The chair is Brodie Summers (Freestyle Skiing – Moguls) while the deputy chair is Alyce Wood (Canoe Sprint). Remaining members are Georgia Baker (Cycling), Andrew Charter (Hockey), Sally Fitzgibbons (Surfing), Jessica Fox (Paddle), Joshua Hicks (Rowing), Henry Hutchison (Rugby Sevens), Conor Nicholas (Sailing), Greta Small (Alpine Skiing), Anabelle Smith (Diving), Ken Wallace (Paddle), Rowena Webster (Water Polo), Alex Wilson (Indigenous representative) and Patrick Johnson (Athletics). ==Administration==

Presidents/Chair • James Taylor (1920–1944) • Sir Harold Alderson (1944–1973) • Sir Edgar Tanner (1973–1977) • Sydney Grange (1977–1985) • Kevan Gosper (1985–1990) • John Coates (1990–2022) • Ian Chesterman (2022–present) • Matt Carroll AM (2017–2025) • Mark Arbib (2025 - ) *As of 2015, the Secretary General position is now known as chief executive officer. Jessica Fox (2024- ), Ian Chesterman (2025- ) ==Funding==

The AOC is not government funded. The AOC sources its revenues primarily through sponsorship, licensing, fundraising activities, grants from the International Olympic Committee (known as Olympic Solidarity) and annual distributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation. 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. While the AOC neither seeks nor derives any funding from the Commonwealth, 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. AOC's total quadrennial funding of its programs for the period 2017–2020 was budgeted at over $43 million. Australian Olympians Association The Australian Olympians Association (AOA) is another of the main funds to Australian Olympians. AOA is an association led by the AOC who provides a connection for all Olympians through functions and events and brings economic support for Olympians in need. == Media coverage ==

Nine Network is the official broadcaster of the Summer and Winter Olympics since 2023 after a three-year commercial sponsorship deal with the AOC, and has the Olympic broadcast rights until 2032. Under an agreement with Nine Network, ABC Local Radio has the radio broadcast license for the 2024 Summer Olympics to listeners across its regional radio network. ==Community programs==

Since 2018, the AOC has expanded its outreach programs into Australian primary and secondary education with the aim of promoting high performance sport in schools. For example, "Australian Olympic Pathway Schools", one of the programs carried out, is selecting and supporting schools who have an established elite athlete development sport program. Others such as "Indigenous Basketball Australia" are providing training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholar coaches. The AOC is a signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, and has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040 for sustainability. ==See also==