Australia 'facing Olympic funding crisis'
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The Australian men's eights rowing team sit dejectedly after coming last in their final. (Reuters)
Australian sport is on the verge of a funding crisis and needs a cash injection if the country is to stay among the elite nations at the Olympic Games, head swimming coach Alan Thompson says.
Australia is under pressure to hold on to its top-five placing at the Beijing Olympics amid cashed-up challenges from Britain and Germany.
Australia, with a population of 21 million, finished fourth behind major powers United States, China and Russia at the last two Games, but the run is under threat.
Reports say the British government is prepared to pour another 400 million pounds ($855 million) into Olympic sport in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics, with its target fourth place on the medals tally.
Thompson, who oversaw Australia's record haul of 20 swimming medals from the Beijing Games, said Australian sport faces a crisis if more money is not forthcoming.
"We are on the verge of a crisis in Australian sport if we don't get any help," Thompson said.
"I think we are seeing even that here. We've been able to be successful with swimming just getting by, despite reductions in real terms in our funding.
"I think some sports have really suffered in the lead-up to these Olympic Games and I think we are at the point now where we really need to look at what we are doing with sports funding in Australia."
Thompson said he had spoken with Australian Sports Minister Kate Ellis and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd while they were in Beijing for the Games.
"I was very encouraged by her desire to assist and not just for swimming, but the whole of sport in Australia," he said.
Thompson said Australia's number of medals at Olympics was reflected by the amount of government help in the past.
"As we've gone through with increased funding, so has our medal tally increased," he said.
"We have to provide experience to the kids new to the international scene, we have to provide travelling experience for them and we have to provide the opportunities for the young children in the sport to come through."
Coach poaching
Australian Olympics chief John Coates has warned Australia was in danger of slipping out of the top 10 altogether within the next two Olympic cycles if funding levels were not significantly increased.
Australian coaches have been poached en masse by the British, often at double or triple the salaries they were being paid in Australia, boosted by the proceeds of national lottery money.
Thompson, who is in the process of negotiating an extension to his current contract, said Australian coaches were in demand.
"We've been under threat all this year and before. They want our coaching stocks," he said.
"Our coaches are the best coaches in the world. For a nation of over 20 million to achieve the results we achieve is down to the coaches.
"We can't keep these great staff and coaches in Australia because we have no funding.
"The British funding is already pretty good and I would expect it to increase even more over the next four years.
"We are starting to see the results of the platform that (Australian) Bill Sweetenham left for the British swimming team to go on with.
"I'm sure that with people like Michael Scott and Dennis Pursley now they are going to be a very big competitor.
"I think if the Chinese keep on improving at the rate they are too they are going to be a much better competitor for all world swimming."
Thompson said he was committed to staying in Australia until at least the London Olympics.
"The Swimming Australia board has offered me a contract extension and we didn't have that finalised before this meet, but this commitment is there and we need to finalise that when we get home," he said.
"My current contract expires at the end of next year.
"I am committed to Australia and I'll be in Australia until 2012 at least, if not longer."
-AFP
