25 January 2006 - Media Release

Australian Institute of Sport: Canberra Icon celebrates 25 years of success

On Australia Day, 26 January 1981, the Australian Institute of Sport was officially opened in Canberra, tomorrow marking a 25 year role helping athletes achieve excellence, both domestically and on the International Stage, and the Institute has gone from strength to strength since its inception.

The Institute was initially based solely in Canberra, with eight sports basketball, gymnastics, netball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field and weightlifting. Today the AIS offers assistance to athletes across the nation through a network of coaches on campuses in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and a number of regional centres.

Not only does the AIS provide a fertile ground for excellence in support but also provides opportunities and support for athletes in the form of some 700 elite scholarships in 35 disciplines, access to equipment, sport science, medicine facilities; accommodation, meals and travel; and assistance with education and career planning – support that would be unobtainable for many Australian's with sporting talents if not for the AIS.

The AIS has produced some of the world's finest Athletes who proudly represent Australia, finishing in the top four in medals at the Olympics and finishing at the top of the Commonwealth Games.

The Institute is vital to Australia's sporting success, and must remain a top priority of the Howard Government. Over the past 10 years the Howard Government has failed on many fronts to ensure that Australia is at the cutting edge of research & development and science and technology. On the 25th Anniversary of the Australian Institute of Sports success, it is vital to the continued sporting success of Australia on the international stage that the AIS is able to deliver to its athletes world class facilities and ensure that the best sports and medical scientists, coaches and support staff are recruited and retained within Australia.

Contact: Adina Cirson 0418 488 295 or 02 6277 3334

24 January 2006 - Media Release

Baton relay should honour community champions

The Queen's Baton arrived in Sydney today for the final leg of a journey which has travelled through all 71 countries of the Commonwealth.

The Australian leg of the relay will allow hundreds of thousands of Australians to be a part of the the Commonwealth Games which is set to be an amazing sporting and cultural celebration.

"This relay is about Australia's unsung heroes in sport and the community sector. This is a chance to recognise and support local champions in Australian communities," Senator Kate Lundy, the Shadow Minister for Sport said following the baton ceremony in Sydney today where she represented the Federal Labor Opposition.

Nearly 2000 community runners will have the opportunity to run with the baton as it travels an impressive 21,000 kilometres around Australia on its way to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the opening ceremony on 15 March.

"I encourage all communities throughout Australia to line streets, share the spirit of the Commonwealth Games and support their community champions as the baton passes through their town," Senator Lundy said.

Contact: Taryn Langdon 0417 148 059 or 02 6277 3334