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The deteriorating relationship between the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and the Australian Sports Commission has seen the AOC exclude the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) from the planning process for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The ABC has reported that AOC President John Coates yesterday (Monday 13th February) sent a letter to AIS Director Matt Favier confirming he will not be invited by the AOC to play a part in planning for the Tokyo Olympics.

The letter formalises the decision to leave Favier out of the recent AOC trip to Tokyo, and further deepens the rift between Coates and John Wylie, Chairman of the Australian Sports Commission, that runs the AIS.

The ABC news report referred to “bewildered sports administrators” saying that dispute needs to be urgently addressed for the good of sport.

At issue is Coates’ and the AOC’s demand for more Federal Government funds for Olympic sports, while the Sports Commission backs its Winning Edge strategy which includes evidence-based funding decisions, sports taking responsibility for their own high performance programs and improved leadership and governance in sports organisations.

Coates has criticised directing resources towards athletes with good medal prospects.

Reportedly he also fears that Sports Commission wants greater involvement in AOC affairs and sees his position, but the independence of the AOC, as being under threat.

The dispute between Coates and Wylie saw them clash publically in the VIP area at the Nitro Athletics in Melbourne at the weekend.

While the AOC receives no direct funding from the Australian Government, the ASC or the AIS, it does acknowledges the critical assistance these bodies provide to both the AOC’s member national sporting federations on the Olympic program and to athletes directly for their preparation for the Olympic Games. 

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