Australian Olympic Committee response to ABC decision on Tokyo Games

Compartir
Compartir articulo

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has called on the ABC to reverse its decision not to provide live radio coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says the decision is short-sighted and runs contrary to the ABC Charter.

"The ABC should reconsider this decision. The AOC is prepared to put this case to the Chair of the ABC directly, on behalf of the 8 million Australians who participate in Olympic sports.

"Not to mention the millions more who follow, support and celebrate those athletes.

"The AOC believes the decision is monumentally short-sighted and a great let down to Australians who rely on their national broadcaster - from the smallest of communities to our suburbs.

Mr Carroll says we live in times when even more Australians should be inspired to participate in sport, to defeat the growing scourges of obesity and mental illness.

"Tokyo 2020 presents such an opportunity to do that, given the time-zone, in particular.

"The Olympics can inspire Australians to embrace something valuable and as the ABC’s charter indicates – to contribute to a sense of national identity. There’s no bigger event in the world to fulfil this ambition.

"There is no sporting movement in Australia that covers the multi-cultural and geographical diversity of our country as the Olympic movement – we will be sending athletes to compete in some 42 disciplines in Tokyo. These are things go to the heart of the ABC Charter," Mr Carroll concluded.

ENDS;

For more information : Strath Gordon 0414266638

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only