Australian Embassy, China
澳大利亚驻华大使馆
Embassy address: 21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Sanlitun, Beijing - Telephone: 5140 4111 - Fax: 5140 4204


Australia Prepares for Beijing Olympics 

 

Following the outstanding success of the Australian team in 2004 in Athens, Australia is keen to continue its wining performance at this year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

In Athens, Australian athletes won 49 medals as Australia finished in fourth position overall and in a new bid to keep the Australian flag flying and the National Anthem playing on the winners podium in Beijing, the Australian Olympic Committee will send a full team (approximately 500 athletes) to the Beijing Games.

The goal of the 2008 Australian Olympic Team is to maintain a top-five position on the Games medal tally and win medals in numerous sports.

Australia believes that the competition between the Chinese and Americans for Olympic supremacy will be great.

Away from the competition, other challenges faced by the visiting Australian team will be; the language, the culture, and the physical environment, size of the city, traffic, and the heat & humidity.

But, the Australian Committee also believes that there is little doubt that Beijing’s 'One World One Dream' Games will have spectacular venues. And, while there are pollution concerns, the Australian Committee said that the Chinese organisers were doing everything possible to ensure a Green Games with clean air for the athletes.

Australia has a Cooperation Agreement with the Chinese Olympic Committee which will enable Australian athletes to familiarise themselves with the culture, climate and Beijing venues in the lead-up the Games.

The two-hour time difference will also be a benefit for Australia's athletes travelling to Beijing and for family and supporters following the events back in Australia.
Australia has been represented at every Summer Games in the modern era since 1896. This includes 4,327 athletes and 405 medals worth of history.

In April, this year, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay will visit Australia, with Chinese officials choosing Australia’s capital, Canberra, as the only Australian city to receive the honour of hosting a leg of the torch relay.

The Australian Olympic Committee is planning celebrations on April 24, 2008 which will involve up to 80 torch bearers carrying the Olympic flame.

The relay, which symbolises peace and friendship, will end with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing at 8pm on the 8/8/2008.


Canberra
23 January 2008

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