Australian Olympic Committee’s Matt Carroll calls for $2 billion investment to drive green and gold decade

Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) Chief Executive Matt Carroll has called on the Federal Government to back sport’s ‘green and gold decade’ with an investment of $2 billion into sport at all levels.

Warning that Australian sport will go backwards during the decade without this financing, Carroll presented a detailed strategy outlining a new vision for sport in Australia, also calling for the Federal Government to upgrade its backing for sport - as a stand-alone portfolio with a seat in cabinet - ensuring a coordinated, targeted approach across other government strategies and policy areas.

Pointing to forward estimates from the Federal Government that show a $2 billion shortfall in direct investment in Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports in the 10 years leading to Brisbane 2032, Carroll suggested "unless this situation is rectified, Australia will be staring failure in the face at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games because our home team will have been undermined by inaction.

"So, what governments in Australia want sport to achieve for the community is not going to happen."

Speaking at the National Press Club, Carroll stated that “to ensure that the once-in-a-generation opportunity of the runway to Brisbane 2032 and the 10 years after are not missed nor squandered, we need a clear articulation of a national Statement of Purpose of, and for, the sports industry, which clearly establishes where sport sits in the federal government's national priorities, and recognised through a national sport strategy."

With the Federal and Queensland Governments having recently agreed to fund $7 billion in infrastructure, Carroll outlined that the AOC believes there is a shortfall in funding for sport of $200 million-a-year in the runup to Brisbane 2032, consisting of a total of $500 million for participation and $1.5 billion in pathway programs and high performance.

He added “without investment, what governments in Australia want sport to achieve for the community is not going to happen and, in all honesty, and openness, unless this situation is rectified, Australia will be staring failure in the face at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), Carroll noted “four years ago, I also spoke about the chronic decline in strategic government investment in Australian sport and the opportunity to arrest that decline for the good of the nation.

“I did say at the time that turning around the decline was a long game – but we are now deep into the second half and sadly the score is going in the wrong way.”

Carroll criticised short-term thinking about sports funding in Australia, citing the women’s national hockey team and the men’s indoor volleyball team who have had funding cut by millions because they were not deemed chances of winning medals. Carroll noted that the latter’s ranking has consequently dropped and it now has no prospect of qualifying for the next Olympics,

He went on to stated “a team that inspires young girls (was) defunded but millions of dollars were found for change room grants for commercial sporting codes. Not saying change rooms are not important but seriously, priorities.”

To guarantee the benefits of sport are maximised for all Australians, the AOC is advocating the following:

• A national Statement of Purpose for sport

• A new sport investment model with built in accountability mechanisms

• A stand-alone Department of Sport

• A boost in direct investment in sports to arrest the decline

• A significant funding increase for the AIS to make it the CSIRO of sport

The AOC's proposed Statement of Purpose include elements such as:

• The independence and autonomy of sports organisations

• Commitment to a diversity of sports, reflecting the multicultural nation we are and the new world we are engaging in - particularly Asia

• Commitment to sport as a great enabler for people with a disability

• Commitment to sport in the School Curriculum, providing children with positive and diverse sporting experiences

• Recognition of the positive impact of whole-of-life sport for active lifestyles, reducing disease and other negative impacts of a sedentary lifestyle, as well as the positive impact that sport has on social cohesion and mental wellbeing across the community

• Recognition that sport can harness a sense of national pride that can unify the country

• Recognition that sporting organisations understand their sport business best and are well placed to develop, implement and deliver the outcomes being sought, especially in education and health

Carroll noted that sports must also be accountable if they are to be the beneficiary of a $200 million-a-year investment building towards Brisbane 2032.