AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS FOR OLYMPIC GREATS

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has acknowledged Olympian Tim Cahill and sports medicine pioneer Dr Ken Fitch who have both been awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in today’s Australia Day honours list.

Tim Cahill AO was a member of the Australian team which competed in Athens Olympic Games in 2004. The Olyroos made the Quarter Finals, with Cahill scoring a goal in Australia’s 5-1 win over Serbia and Montenegro in the preliminary rounds before bowing out 1-0 to Iraq in the Quarter Final.

Dr Ken Fitch AO is a pioneer in sports medicine in Australia, attending 12 Olympic Games in various roles for both the AOC and IOC. His Olympic service started with the Australian Olympic Team in Munich in 1972 and he also Chaired the AOC’s Medical Commission for many years.

AOC President John Coates AC has congratulated both men for their outstanding contribution to Australian sport.

"Tim Cahill’s career in football is extraordinary and this honour is very much deserved. His exploits with the Socceroos, Everton and of course at the Olympic Games have inspired thousands of young Australians to pursue their dreams.

"His skills, determination and his trademark celebrations always excited Australians. They are cherished memories for sports fans. No surprise that in his Olympic year, he went on to win the Oceania Footballer of the Year Award.

"His desire to represent his country at those 2004 Olympics really set him apart. His Everton colleagues and management were completely taken aback. At that key moment in his young career, the Olympics and Australia were so important to him. And he never looked back. A monumental career followed.

"I cannot overstate how important Dr Ken Fitch has been to sports medicine in Australia. We have been well served by so many in this field and Ken’s contribution has been exceptional.

"He has been a world leader and a great contributor in the field of anti-doping. He led the AOC’s medical team at numerous Games, been a member of the IOC Medical Commission, Chaired the IOC Medications Advisory Committee, pioneered anti-doping efforts initially with the Australian Sports Commission and subsequent anti-doping bodies.

"This honour is richly deserved. It reflects a lifetime commitment to sport in a variety of very significant roles."

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

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