12.03.2008

Statement from Athletics Australia and Athletics Victoria regarding Olympic Park

In recent days there has been speculation on the future of Melbourne's Olympic Park - the home of athletics in Victoria.

For over two years, Athletics Australia and Athletics Victoria have been in discussions with the Victorian Government to ensure that our sport has the best possible facilities available and that its position within the Olympic Park precinct remains the best alternative for the Victorian community.

We have been advised that there are currently two options under consideration by Government, which involve either a new or upgraded facility on the existing Olympic Park site, or creating a new state athletics centre within the Bob Jane Stadium at Albert Park.

While our discussions with Government have been positive, we are yet to be presented with detailed recommendations or plans for consideration.

Olympic Park is the home of athletics in Victoria and has a very special role to play in our sport. The stadium was bequeathed by the City of Melbourne to the Victorian people as a legacy of the 1956 Olympic Games. Its heritage and significance to the sport of athletics in Australia must not be underestimated.

Furthermore, Olympic Park currently caters for many aspects of our sport, ranging from the hosting of our international athletics meetings, to grassroots participation where tens of thousands of school children and little athletes use the stadium on an annual basis.

Our position is very clear and can be summarised by the following:

Olympic Park is the home of athletics in Victoria and a proud legacy of the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games. Athletics Australia and Athletics Victoria state that it is our preferred option to remain based at Olympic Park unless a significantly better opportunity is presented to the sport by the Victorian State Government.

Furthermore, and as a result of recent media speculation, we wish to point out to the athletics fraternity that we take seriously any real or perceived conflicts of interest by any Director and will deal with such matters in the appropriate manner.

We take the governance of our sport very seriously and consider it a privilege to be the current custodians of the sport as we face the challenges presented to us in the future.

We will endeavour to keep you informed as discussions on Olympic Park continue.

Rob H Fildes OAM	Anne Lord
President	President
Athletics Australia	Athletics Victoria