Western Australian Institute of Sport - Winners in the Commonwealth Games

9/8/02
The extraordinary success of the State's Commonwealth Games athletes has further enhanced the international reputation of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), Sport and Recreation Minister Alan Carpenter said today.
Welcoming home Commonwealth Games athletes in Perth today, Mr Carpenter said the State Government's annual $3.25million investment in WAIS had helped produce outstanding elite athletes who continued to successfully compete at an international level.
"Twenty Western Australian WAIS-trained athletes participated in the Games, with 14 of those bringing home 24 medals including 15 gold - WAIS's best ever Commonwealth Games medal result," Mr Carpenter said.
"This is such a successful result, that had we been a country, WA would have been placed sixth in the overall gold medal tally.
"This success is a reflection not only of the abilities of our athletes, but also of the outstanding efforts and expertise of WAIS staff and programs."
The Minister said that WAIS had highly-regarded expertise in the overall development of our elite athletes, assisting them through the provision of coaching, scientific and administrative support.
"Without WAIS, our State's elite athletes would have to re-locate to another State, and our community would lose significant positive role models," he said.
Through the State Government's contribution, WAIS provided funds to ensure its athletes could fulfil the training and competition schedules required at an elite level.
The State Government had also provided WAIS with a modern purpose-built science and administration facility on the grounds of WA's premier sporting facility, Challenge Stadium. This enabled WAIS to provide all aspects of an elite athletes' needs under one roof.
Mr Carpenter said WAIS would continue to support and develop its current elite athletes, and those to follow, in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Athens and the Commonwealth Games to be held in Melbourne, Australia in 2006.
The Minister also acknowledged the contribution of the major sponsors of WAIS including Coca-Cola Amatil, Channel 7, Bunnings Warehouse, Swan Brewery and ANZ.
Minister's offfice: 9213 6800