Latest news with #AustralianOlympicCommittee
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia's 1980 Moscow Olympians ‘labeled as traitors'. Now they're finally being recognised
Australian Olympians who were called traitors and faced death threats will be recognised by the prime minister, 45 years after they defied the government and competed in the controversial 1980 Moscow Games. The team of 96 men and 25 women went to the Soviet Union-hosted Games in the face of the Australian government's support for a US-led boycott over the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Australia won two gold medals, two silver and five bronze at the Games but the athletes did not receive the welcoming reception typically granted to Olympians upon their return. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Lobbying from team members and the Australian Olympic Committee has now secured Anthony Albanese's agreement to acknowledge athlete's participation and subsequent treatment in a parliamentary address. Peter Hadfield, a decathlete at the Moscow Games, said the team felt abandoned by the Australian public after the government, led by Malcolm Fraser, called for athletes to avoid attending. 'Young athletes, people in their teens and early 20s, were either directly receiving death threats or being labeled as traitors,' he said. 'There's a fair bit of emotional hurt every time the Games comes around – it's a reminder every four years about that lack of recognition.' The athletes' experience was a far cry from that of the 2024 Olympians returning from Paris, who received a heroes' welcome from crowds of fans when they landed in Sydney. The 1980 team will receive the first formal acknowledgment of their participation and pain when prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and opposition leader, Sussan Ley, address parliament on 30 July. Nearly 40 of the Olympians are expected to attend with their families, though some have died and others declined invitations due to the ongoing anguish, Hadfield said. 'We were hoping that recognition would help to heal some of those mental scars, and I'm sure it will, but there are some that still couldn't bring themselves,' he said. 'There was a young swimmer in the team who just said, 'I'm just not completely over the whole situation, so sorry, I won't be able to attend'. This is 45 years later. That's how strongly it's been felt.' Australia was among 80 nations to participate in the Moscow Games, alongside Great Britain, Ireland, France and New Zealand, while US president Jimmy Carter's call for a boycott saw 59 countries withdraw. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Public pressure saw Australia's hockey and equestrian team withdraw and other athletes step down, while the final team barely had the Olympic governing body's support, after five of its 11 board members voted against attending. The Olympians felt betrayed by the Fraser government singling them out as a diplomatic weapon despite Australia's continued trade and cultural ties with the Soviet government, Hadfield said. 'We were the only people being asked to make a sacrifice to show Australia's revulsion across the Soviet Union's invasion … Their hypocrisy hurt a lot.' 'We basically had to sneak out of the country, like thieves in the night: we were told don't wear uniform, we went out in small groups, there was no media event, there was no applause.' The federal government recognition, announced on the 45th anniversary of the 1980 Olympics' opening ceremony, is the result of a year of lobbying from athletes and the AOC. Hadfield said he and fellow athletes Michelle Ford and Max Metzker worked to gain the AOC's support for recognition, after the 1980 team's 2024 reunion before the Paris Olympics. Mark Arbib, a former Labor sports minister who was appointed chief executive of the AOC in April, helped secure government support for recognition.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Do not get involved': Arbib's warning to Australian Olympians about Enhanced Games
Australian Olympic Committee chief Mark Arbib has warned any Australian athletes who are considering a tilt at the Enhanced Games next year to think again, saying their involvement would not be supported or sanctioned. Arbib has taken a dim view of plans for the Enhanced Games to be launched next year in Las Vegas, including events in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting and with a format that will pit clean athletes against those who have taken performance-enhancing drugs under supervision for the same lucrative prize money. 'It's a dangerous and risky venture,' Arbib said on Friday. 'People need to remember drugs in sport are banned primarily for health reasons. We care about the welfare of the athletes. We care about the welfare of the community. Taking drugs can negatively impact your health, but it can also lead to death. 'So any event that is promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs, promoting the use of steroids, is not something that we would ever be associated with or sanction. 'It's the complete opposite of what the Olympic movement stands for. We stand for a level playing field. We stand for the principles of Olympism. And this venture, this commercial venture, is about making money and about undermining the global anti-drug enforcement strategies and networks that are in place.' Founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games plans to pay $US250,000 for each gold medal and $US1 million to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle swimming. Organisers say all athletes – clean or enhanced – will be paid appearance fees, which is where temptation might creep in for Olympians to consider entering, in the knowledge that they would not have to take drugs or otherwise risk their health or status. However, the concern among those across sporting bodies is that that could potentially legitimise what is one of the most contentious and controversial ventures ever seen in modern sport.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Do not get involved': Arbib's warning to Australian Olympians about Enhanced Games
Australian Olympic Committee chief Mark Arbib has warned any Australian athletes who are considering a tilt at the Enhanced Games next year to think again, saying their involvement would not be supported or sanctioned. Arbib has taken a dim view of plans for the Enhanced Games to be launched next year in Las Vegas, including events in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting and with a format that will pit clean athletes against those who have taken performance-enhancing drugs under supervision for the same lucrative prize money. 'It's a dangerous and risky venture,' Arbib said on Friday. 'People need to remember drugs in sport are banned primarily for health reasons. We care about the welfare of the athletes. We care about the welfare of the community. Taking drugs can negatively impact your health, but it can also lead to death. 'So any event that is promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs, promoting the use of steroids, is not something that we would ever be associated with or sanction. 'It's the complete opposite of what the Olympic movement stands for. We stand for a level playing field. We stand for the principles of Olympism. And this venture, this commercial venture, is about making money and about undermining the global anti-drug enforcement strategies and networks that are in place.' Founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games plans to pay $US250,000 for each gold medal and $US1 million to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle swimming. Organisers say all athletes – clean or enhanced – will be paid appearance fees, which is where temptation might creep in for Olympians to consider entering, in the knowledge that they would not have to take drugs or otherwise risk their health or status. However, the concern among those across sporting bodies is that that could potentially legitimise what is one of the most contentious and controversial ventures ever seen in modern sport.
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
More Aussies flag Enhanced Games interest amid backlash
Australian sports decrying the drug-fuelled Enhanced Games feel threatened at losing more athletes, swimmer James Magnussen says. Fellow Australian swimmers have flagged interest to Magnussen in following him to the sports event without drug testing after the inaugural games in Las Vegas next May. Australia's top sports crime-fighter, Sport Integrity Australia's chief executive Sarah Benson, has condemned Enhanced Games as dangerous and damaging. "We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all," Benson said. "The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite. "(It) poses a significant risk to athletes' health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia. "Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes." The Australian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies have also railed against the event, but Magnussen said the attitude among cash-strapped athletes differed. "The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we're very interested to join," Magnussen told AAP in Las Vegas. "Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn't there at the moment in that swimming world. "But it's very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games." The games launched by Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza have already paid out $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev. The four-time Greek Olympian bettered the legal 50m freestyle world record while on performance enhancing drugs last February. The million-dollar bonus is for any athlete breaking the legal record in the 50m free and 100m sprint, with $US250,000 ($A389,000) for besting other world benchmarks. Each Enhanced event will carry $US500,000 ($A777,000) prizemoney - the winner takes $US250,000, every athlete gets a sliding share, plus appearance fees. Magnussen said the cash at an event backed by multi-billionaires would change lives - and minds. "It's a real and present threat for those sporting organisations in Australia," he said. "It's a big opportunity for any athlete. "You don't have to be an enhanced athlete to compete at the Games. "(Australia's Olympic 50m freestyle champion) Cam McEvoy could come from clean sport to the Enhanced Games, put on a supersuit and go very close to that world record without any enhancements. "He would then be racing for $1 million US, so $1.6 million Australian, in a year's time rather than waiting three years until the LA Olympic Games to race for $30,000. 'They're quite different propositions." Magnussen wants to rekindle his rivalry with Olympic teammate McEvoy. "Everyone will have to make their own decision, will have to delve into their own conscience and find out what they think is the better option for them," he said. "But after this first games, they will realise this is the real deal. "I'd love to see Cam come and race; that was a rivalry that we had a long time ago. "They're the storylines that can make these first games really exciting." Magnussen was the first athlete to sign with Enhanced Games, followed by Gkolomeev. Ukraine's world record holder in the 50m butterfly, Andrii Govorov, and Bulgarian Olympic butterflyer Josif Miladinov have also joined. About 100 athletes will compete with organisers to build a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane athletics track and a weightlifting venue on land currently a car park at Resorts World Las Vegas. This AAP article was made possible by support from the Enhanced Games Australian sports decrying the drug-fuelled Enhanced Games feel threatened at losing more athletes, swimmer James Magnussen says. Fellow Australian swimmers have flagged interest to Magnussen in following him to the sports event without drug testing after the inaugural games in Las Vegas next May. Australia's top sports crime-fighter, Sport Integrity Australia's chief executive Sarah Benson, has condemned Enhanced Games as dangerous and damaging. "We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all," Benson said. "The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite. "(It) poses a significant risk to athletes' health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia. "Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes." The Australian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies have also railed against the event, but Magnussen said the attitude among cash-strapped athletes differed. "The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we're very interested to join," Magnussen told AAP in Las Vegas. "Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn't there at the moment in that swimming world. "But it's very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games." The games launched by Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza have already paid out $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev. The four-time Greek Olympian bettered the legal 50m freestyle world record while on performance enhancing drugs last February. The million-dollar bonus is for any athlete breaking the legal record in the 50m free and 100m sprint, with $US250,000 ($A389,000) for besting other world benchmarks. Each Enhanced event will carry $US500,000 ($A777,000) prizemoney - the winner takes $US250,000, every athlete gets a sliding share, plus appearance fees. Magnussen said the cash at an event backed by multi-billionaires would change lives - and minds. "It's a real and present threat for those sporting organisations in Australia," he said. "It's a big opportunity for any athlete. "You don't have to be an enhanced athlete to compete at the Games. "(Australia's Olympic 50m freestyle champion) Cam McEvoy could come from clean sport to the Enhanced Games, put on a supersuit and go very close to that world record without any enhancements. "He would then be racing for $1 million US, so $1.6 million Australian, in a year's time rather than waiting three years until the LA Olympic Games to race for $30,000. 'They're quite different propositions." Magnussen wants to rekindle his rivalry with Olympic teammate McEvoy. "Everyone will have to make their own decision, will have to delve into their own conscience and find out what they think is the better option for them," he said. "But after this first games, they will realise this is the real deal. "I'd love to see Cam come and race; that was a rivalry that we had a long time ago. "They're the storylines that can make these first games really exciting." Magnussen was the first athlete to sign with Enhanced Games, followed by Gkolomeev. Ukraine's world record holder in the 50m butterfly, Andrii Govorov, and Bulgarian Olympic butterflyer Josif Miladinov have also joined. About 100 athletes will compete with organisers to build a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane athletics track and a weightlifting venue on land currently a car park at Resorts World Las Vegas. This AAP article was made possible by support from the Enhanced Games Australian sports decrying the drug-fuelled Enhanced Games feel threatened at losing more athletes, swimmer James Magnussen says. Fellow Australian swimmers have flagged interest to Magnussen in following him to the sports event without drug testing after the inaugural games in Las Vegas next May. Australia's top sports crime-fighter, Sport Integrity Australia's chief executive Sarah Benson, has condemned Enhanced Games as dangerous and damaging. "We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all," Benson said. "The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite. "(It) poses a significant risk to athletes' health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia. "Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes." The Australian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies have also railed against the event, but Magnussen said the attitude among cash-strapped athletes differed. "The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we're very interested to join," Magnussen told AAP in Las Vegas. "Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn't there at the moment in that swimming world. "But it's very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games." The games launched by Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza have already paid out $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev. The four-time Greek Olympian bettered the legal 50m freestyle world record while on performance enhancing drugs last February. The million-dollar bonus is for any athlete breaking the legal record in the 50m free and 100m sprint, with $US250,000 ($A389,000) for besting other world benchmarks. Each Enhanced event will carry $US500,000 ($A777,000) prizemoney - the winner takes $US250,000, every athlete gets a sliding share, plus appearance fees. Magnussen said the cash at an event backed by multi-billionaires would change lives - and minds. "It's a real and present threat for those sporting organisations in Australia," he said. "It's a big opportunity for any athlete. "You don't have to be an enhanced athlete to compete at the Games. "(Australia's Olympic 50m freestyle champion) Cam McEvoy could come from clean sport to the Enhanced Games, put on a supersuit and go very close to that world record without any enhancements. "He would then be racing for $1 million US, so $1.6 million Australian, in a year's time rather than waiting three years until the LA Olympic Games to race for $30,000. 'They're quite different propositions." Magnussen wants to rekindle his rivalry with Olympic teammate McEvoy. "Everyone will have to make their own decision, will have to delve into their own conscience and find out what they think is the better option for them," he said. "But after this first games, they will realise this is the real deal. "I'd love to see Cam come and race; that was a rivalry that we had a long time ago. "They're the storylines that can make these first games really exciting." Magnussen was the first athlete to sign with Enhanced Games, followed by Gkolomeev. Ukraine's world record holder in the 50m butterfly, Andrii Govorov, and Bulgarian Olympic butterflyer Josif Miladinov have also joined. About 100 athletes will compete with organisers to build a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane athletics track and a weightlifting venue on land currently a car park at Resorts World Las Vegas. This AAP article was made possible by support from the Enhanced Games Australian sports decrying the drug-fuelled Enhanced Games feel threatened at losing more athletes, swimmer James Magnussen says. Fellow Australian swimmers have flagged interest to Magnussen in following him to the sports event without drug testing after the inaugural games in Las Vegas next May. Australia's top sports crime-fighter, Sport Integrity Australia's chief executive Sarah Benson, has condemned Enhanced Games as dangerous and damaging. "We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all," Benson said. "The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite. "(It) poses a significant risk to athletes' health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia. "Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes." The Australian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies have also railed against the event, but Magnussen said the attitude among cash-strapped athletes differed. "The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we're very interested to join," Magnussen told AAP in Las Vegas. "Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn't there at the moment in that swimming world. "But it's very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games." The games launched by Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza have already paid out $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev. The four-time Greek Olympian bettered the legal 50m freestyle world record while on performance enhancing drugs last February. The million-dollar bonus is for any athlete breaking the legal record in the 50m free and 100m sprint, with $US250,000 ($A389,000) for besting other world benchmarks. Each Enhanced event will carry $US500,000 ($A777,000) prizemoney - the winner takes $US250,000, every athlete gets a sliding share, plus appearance fees. Magnussen said the cash at an event backed by multi-billionaires would change lives - and minds. "It's a real and present threat for those sporting organisations in Australia," he said. "It's a big opportunity for any athlete. "You don't have to be an enhanced athlete to compete at the Games. "(Australia's Olympic 50m freestyle champion) Cam McEvoy could come from clean sport to the Enhanced Games, put on a supersuit and go very close to that world record without any enhancements. "He would then be racing for $1 million US, so $1.6 million Australian, in a year's time rather than waiting three years until the LA Olympic Games to race for $30,000. 'They're quite different propositions." Magnussen wants to rekindle his rivalry with Olympic teammate McEvoy. "Everyone will have to make their own decision, will have to delve into their own conscience and find out what they think is the better option for them," he said. "But after this first games, they will realise this is the real deal. "I'd love to see Cam come and race; that was a rivalry that we had a long time ago. "They're the storylines that can make these first games really exciting." Magnussen was the first athlete to sign with Enhanced Games, followed by Gkolomeev. Ukraine's world record holder in the 50m butterfly, Andrii Govorov, and Bulgarian Olympic butterflyer Josif Miladinov have also joined. About 100 athletes will compete with organisers to build a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane athletics track and a weightlifting venue on land currently a car park at Resorts World Las Vegas. This AAP article was made possible by support from the Enhanced Games
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
More Aussies flag Enhanced Games interest amid backlash
Australian sports decrying the drug-fuelled Enhanced Games feel threatened at losing more athletes, swimmer James Magnussen says. Fellow Australian swimmers have flagged interest to Magnussen in following him to the sports event without drug testing after the inaugural games in Las Vegas next May. Australia's top sports crime-fighter, Sport Integrity Australia's chief executive Sarah Benson, has condemned Enhanced Games as dangerous and damaging. "We work to ensure that sport is safe and fair for all," Benson said. "The Enhanced Games is promoting the complete opposite. "(It) poses a significant risk to athletes' health and safety while undermining the fundamental values of sport in Australia. "Of particular concern is the message this sends to young athletes." The Australian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies have also railed against the event, but Magnussen said the attitude among cash-strapped athletes differed. "The most common response I hear from current athletes is, if this all goes ahead the way we believe it will in the first year, then we're very interested to join," Magnussen told AAP in Las Vegas. "Because the opportunity to set yourself up for life just isn't there at the moment in that swimming world. "But it's very clear that opportunity is available with the Enhanced Games." The games launched by Melbourne-born entrepreneur Aron D'Souza have already paid out $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev. The four-time Greek Olympian bettered the legal 50m freestyle world record while on performance enhancing drugs last February. The million-dollar bonus is for any athlete breaking the legal record in the 50m free and 100m sprint, with $US250,000 ($A389,000) for besting other world benchmarks. Each Enhanced event will carry $US500,000 ($A777,000) prizemoney - the winner takes $US250,000, every athlete gets a sliding share, plus appearance fees. Magnussen said the cash at an event backed by multi-billionaires would change lives - and minds. "It's a real and present threat for those sporting organisations in Australia," he said. "It's a big opportunity for any athlete. "You don't have to be an enhanced athlete to compete at the Games. "(Australia's Olympic 50m freestyle champion) Cam McEvoy could come from clean sport to the Enhanced Games, put on a supersuit and go very close to that world record without any enhancements. "He would then be racing for $1 million US, so $1.6 million Australian, in a year's time rather than waiting three years until the LA Olympic Games to race for $30,000. 'They're quite different propositions." Magnussen wants to rekindle his rivalry with Olympic teammate McEvoy. "Everyone will have to make their own decision, will have to delve into their own conscience and find out what they think is the better option for them," he said. "But after this first games, they will realise this is the real deal. "I'd love to see Cam come and race; that was a rivalry that we had a long time ago. "They're the storylines that can make these first games really exciting." Magnussen was the first athlete to sign with Enhanced Games, followed by Gkolomeev. Ukraine's world record holder in the 50m butterfly, Andrii Govorov, and Bulgarian Olympic butterflyer Josif Miladinov have also joined. About 100 athletes will compete with organisers to build a four-lane 50m pool, a six-lane athletics track and a weightlifting venue on land currently a car park at Resorts World Las Vegas. This AAP article was made possible by support from the Enhanced Games
