'Olympic Club' Fundraiser Lauched
Story by: Gary Scholes
28 February 1998.As of yesterday, the average Australian has been given the opportunity to sign up with the Australian Olympic team as a selector, manager, coach, administrator and financial backer. Obviously it is a huge task, with an even larger commitment, but with the launch of the Olympic Club around the country yesterday, a world first, the list of tasks will be easy to manage.
The Olympic Club was launched in Canberra by foundation member Rob de Castella and he introduced it as a chance for all Australians to share in the excitement of holding the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The club offers a number of membership levels, with a range of benefits and privileges to suit all members of the community. Individual membership is $150, family $300 and patron membership $500. According to de Castella, 80 per cent of the funds generated from this scheme will go back to the athletes to assist with preparations for Sydney 2000.
'It is an indication of the approach that Australia is taking to the Olympics that, for the first time ever, the concept such as a mass participation club or a community club has been articulated, developed and now launched in conjunction with an Olympic Games,' he said. 'Most people see and follow the Olympics through the sporting achievements of the athletes between Games and it is really only during the periods of the Games that people get the chance to get a feel for what the Olympics is all about. In that case it is only those who are actually in the Olympic city while the Games are taking place. The feeling in those cities is something special, something difficult to explain and something which is almost impossible to replicate from one Olympics to another. With this innovation, all Australians can share, in some way, what only a few could [share] in the past'.
Membership of the club will provide, on a weekly basis from June 23 this year to June 23 in the year 2000, the chance to win tickets from a ticket pool of up to 72,000. The ticket pool comprises a range of sessions across all events at the Games, including opening and closing ceremonies, swimming, track and field and gymnastics. Many other benefits come with membership, including commemorative videos, regular posting of magazines with all the latest information on the Games, the athletes and the venues and their progress.
'The Olympic Club is one of the most exciting and innovative projects in the history of the Olympic Movement,' de Castella said. 'As a founding member, I encourage all Australians to take part in this world first.' Members also will have the opportunity to meet and greet athletes, become involved in training sessions and clinics, test events, cultural events and events specifically organised for members in conjunction with local sporting associations. The opportunities and benefits of joining are very extensive, so I think it is a very worthwhile program, not only for members but for the opportunity I think it can provide for us as a nation, to very much unite and come together around the Olympic Games in 2000,' de Castella added.
A national letterbox drop in March will offer membership. For further information, telephone 1800 659 2000 (In Australia).
Cool Running Australia 28.02.97. This article first appeared in the Canberra Times, 27.02.98.
