Ann: Target's Statement, page-87

AOC backs calls for A$50 million lottery to keep Australia in the race

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Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates also gave enthusiastic backing to the idea.

"We are 100 percent supportive of the lottery proposal," he said.

"Olympic sport is in desperate need of funding. We are being out-funded by other countries, particularly Britain and Germany. I would give the lottery wholehearted support and I hope it gets up."

The Australian Sports Commission provides a majority of the funding for most Olympic sports but has seen its government grant decline over the last five years.

Britain, which has traditionally been a close rival of Australia at the Summer Games, has conversely benefited from a huge increase in funding for elite sport via its national lottery and finished second on the medals' table in Rio.

"We are on a burning deck in terms of our international performance," Wylie told The Australian newspaper.

"There is no better evidence of that than what has been happening at the Olympic Games.

"If we are going to remain competitive internationally, if we are going to have a healthy and active society, we need to invest significantly more in the system."