VIC: Olympic gold medals cost taxpayers about $17 mln each

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2008
VIC: Olympic gold medals cost taxpayers about $17 mln each

MELBOURNE, Aug 24 AAP - Australian taxpayers forked out almost $17 million towards
each gold medal won by the nation's Olympic team in Beijing.

The country's taxpayers contributed $16.7 million through direct federal grants for
each of the 13 gold medals won, but the real figure could be higher, Fairfax reported
today.

Sport academic James Connor said once funding by state governments and sporting infrastructure
costs were taken into account, the figure could exceed $100 million.

"The real price of a gold medal would be three, four or five times higher, up to $100
million," Dr Connor, from the Australian Defence Force Academy, said.

In athletics, $19.3 million has been poured in over four years, and a European training
base established.

Acting Australian Institute of Sport chief, Brent Espeland, has confirmed that sports
such as cycling and gymnastics, which disappointed in the medal count, will need to fight
for funding.

Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates launched an inquiry to ask how much
extra money was needed to win 55 medals at the 2012 London Games and 60 at the 2016 Olympics.

Swimming coach Alan Thompson said Australian sport was "on the verge of a crisis" without
a funding injection.

Sport Minister Kate Ellis launched an inquiry in May into the efficiency of elite sport funding.

AAP md/rs

KEYWORD: OLY08 FUNDING

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