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Australia aiming for top-five in Rio medal count

21st April, 2015
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With ambitious aims of a top-five finish and mindful of Brazil’s high crime rate, the AOC is warning Australia’s Olympic hopefuls they’ll be in Rio de Janeiro for business not pleasure next year.

AOC secretary general Fiona de Jong says Australians’ focus at the first-ever South American Olympics must be on performance and safety.

» VIEW THE OLYMPIC MEDAL TALLY HERE

Brazil’s military, federal and civil police as well as the army, fire department and intelligence agencies are committed to ensuring a safe Games amid growing security fears.

De Jong, though, has warned Australians travelling to Rio they can’t be too careful.

“It’s been well reported that during the recent World Cup (soccer) in Brazil and test events that visitors, including athletes, have been mugged or robbed,” de Jong said at the annual AAP Sports Editors’ Conference in Sydney on Tuesday.

“Organisers have said that that simply won’t happen during the Games. I think it would be naive to suggest that we’re going to go to Rio and that these incidents are not going to occur.

“Our advice to athletes, athletes’ family and friends and media heading to Rio is certainly to be aware that it is a developing nation with serious crime and it is recommended by DFAT to exercise a high degree of caution at all times.

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“Australians will need to be careful where they go, particularly at night and after competition.”

Under chef de mission Kitty Chiller, de Jong said the AOC would urge Australia’s Olympians to stay tight.

“Our team’s focus is certainly encouraging athletes when they’ve finished competition to be in the stands backing their mates that are competing in other competitions at the Games rather than discovering Rio,” she said.

De Jong said there were currently some 1400 athletes on Australia’s shadow team.

“And if our football teams both qualify, we will have a final team size of around 470 athletes competing in 27 of the 28 sports,” she said.

“Our benchmark of performance at the end of last year had us (finishing) in seventh place on the medal tally and top five has unapologetically remained our stretched target for Rio.

“We are in the business of elite sport and we should aim high, just as athletes aim for excellence in everything they do.

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“The signs are certainly encouraging, especially in swimming, sailing, cycling and hockey and indeed I am saying now that Rio could be the first Games where our men’s basketball team could make it on the podium.

“We have heard the argument that too much emphasis is placed on medals and at the end of the day my view is that the athletes want to win and that’s exactly what we are about supporting.”

De Jong said European handball was the only sport Australia wouldn’t be contesting in Rio, providing the two football teams qualify.

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