Membership of Olympic taskforce announced

16/11/93

Prominent sporting figures and administrators have been appointed to a taskforce to maximise the benefits of the Sydney 2000 Olympics for Western Australia.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore announced the membership today, before the Sydney 2000 Olympics Strategy Taskforce held its first meeting.

Mr Moore said the 17-member taskforce, chaired by former Olympic hockey player Mr Justice Alan Barblett of the Family Court, would primarily have a sporting focus, but would also identify tourism, commerce and trade opportunities for the State.

Prominent sporting identities who were members included WA Olympic Council President Tom Hoad, Australian Commonwealth Games Federation WA Secretary General Lynne Bates and WA Aboriginal Sport Foundation Deputy Chairman Neville Collard.

Others included Hopman Cup Tennis Tournament Director Paul McNamee, former America's Cup executive Warren Jones, WA Women-in-Sport Committee executive director Yvonne Rate and WA Disabled Sports Association manager (International Division) Kerry Smith.

WA Institute of Sport executive director Wally Foreman, WA Sports Federation executive director Bob Welch, and the Ministry of Sport and Recreation's junior sport development manager Ron Alexander were also members.

Representatives from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, the Department of Commerce and Trade and EventsCorp would ensure co-ordination of the efforts of the relevant Government agencies.

"Such a top-level high-powered taskforce will provide direction and focus to the State's efforts to ensure we receive whatever benefits are possible from Sydney's Olympics win," Mr Moore said.

"Sport and the performance of Western Australian athletes will be the major focus, with any related benefits likely to follow only if we maximise the sporting component first."

The taskforce's duties included:

·       placing sporting needs in order of priority;

·       evaluating the merits of bids for international sporting competitions;

·       devising strategies for seeking national and international support for Western Australian sporting events; and -

·       co-ordinating activities and resources across relevant   Government departments to maximise opportunities for the State.

Mr Moore said the Sydney Olympic decision provided the best-ever opportunity for Western Australian and national sport to implement a broad range of sport-related initiatives.

The Olympic 2000 Taskforce would ensure that these opportunities were not missed.

Media contact:  Ross Storey 321 1444 / 222 9595