Doubts against funding increase for Australian sport

20/08/2008 18:35:18

The Australian government has refused to commit to a substantial increase in funding for Australian athletes in the lead up to the London Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee president, John Coates, and the head swimming coach, Alan Thompson, have both called for more money to be spent to ensure Australia remains in medal contention.

But the federal sports minister, Kate Ellis, says there will be no new funding commitments until a thorough review of Australian sport is completed.

"We don't think that this is the time that we should be just throwing around figures," she said.

"We want to sit down and have a look at the system as it works at the moment.

"Any ways that we can remove duplication make it a more streamlined and effective system and then sit down and have the discussions about funding."

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