M111

14 September 1995

FOREIGN AFFAIRS PREPARES FOR OLYMPICS

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Gareth Evans, today announced the establishment of an Olympic Sports Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The new unit has been established to assist with coordination and other preparations for the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The unit was officially launched at a news conference held at the offices of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) attended by the Organising Committee President, Mr Gary Pemberton.

"As we begin the five year countdown to the opening of the Sydney Olympics, we felt that a dedicated unit within the Department, that would work with SOCOG and other agencies preparing for this major undertaking, was a logical response to the scale and importance of such an international event," Senator Evans said.

The Minister said his portfolio was already involved in supporting the Sydney Olympics through the Australia - South Pacific 2000 Program announced by the Prime Minister at the South Pacific Forum in 1994. The five year program, with total annual funding of $1 million each year until the year 2000, includes a substantial sports component designed to assist elite athletes from South Pacific countries to qualify for participation in the Sydney Olympics, and to encourage community participation in sport throughout the region.

"The Olympic Sports Unit will provide an essential link between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, SOCOG and other Olympic and sports agencies. In the lead up and during the Sydney Games, the Department will make a major contribution through its operations in Australia and its network of overseas posts, " Senator Evans said.

Assistance and support to be provided by the Department includes handling high level international visitors, developing the cultural festivals which will be linked to the Olympics, and undertaking international publicity programs.

The Minister said the Olympic Sports Unit would help to develop strategies to take advantage of the unique opportunity offered by the Sydney Olympics and Australia' s high international sports profile to promote contemporary Australia overseas more effectively in support of wider national interests, including in the trade and investment field.

Senator Evans welcomed the cooperative partnership developed between his Department, SOCOG, the NSW Government Office of Olympic Coordination, the Australian Olympic Committee, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Sports Drug Agency in relation to preparations for the Sydney Olympics.

SYDNEY