Next Saturday will be one of the most intense moments in Australian sport for a long time when the Australian Olympic Committee presidency will be up for grabs between incumbent John Coates and challenger Danni Roche.
And if the lead-in is any criteria, it’s bound to get ugly.
In the red corner, 66-year-old John Coates – a lawyer and the president of the AOC for the last 27 tears (and never challenged for the title before). He’s vice-president of the powerful International Olympic Committee, chairman of the IOC committee keeping an eye on Tokyo 2020 preparations, and president of the Court for Arbitration of Sport.
In the blue corner, 46-year-old Danni Roche, hardly known outside of her sport hockey as a gold medalist with the Hockeyroos at the 1996 Olympics, and the daughter of Ken Roche, a 400 metre hurdler with Commonwealth Games gold from Perth 1962 and Kingston Jamaica in 1966, and in between an Olympic semi-finalist in Tokyo 1964.
Coates has always been a Sydneysider. Roche was born in Melbourne but has been living in Sydney since 2000 and describes herself now as a Sydneysider.
But make no mistake, the vote on Saturday will be Sydney versus Melbourne.
That’s because Roche was appointed to the Australian Sports Commission headed by John Wylie, a Melbourne man through and through, and also chairman of the MCG.
And it’s no secret Coates and Wylie aren’t on each other’s Christmas card list; there’s a genuine loathing of each other.
Wylie is the key.
He had already asked Americas Cup winner John Bertrand to stand against Coates – Bertrand is now president of Swimming Australia.
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett was another, as was seven times world champion oarsman James Tomkins – all three were non-starters.
While some might beg the question, “why hasn’t Wylie thrown his hat in the AOC presidency ring?”, the fact is he hasn’t, it’s been left to Roche with Wylie’s backing, which is not inconsiderable, with Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle another heavyweight supporter.
Strangely, Sydney-based broadcaster Alan Jones, the best in the business, is not so much a Roche supporter, but rather very anti-Coates,
I find that very disappointing, having known them very well over 40 years. Both are brilliant at what they do, but they will never be on the same page.
When it comes to heavyweights there, are a lot more in Coates’ corner, led by Herb Elliott, the man who was never beaten on the mile and 1500m track, a world record holder, won Olympic gold in Rome 1960 and immediately retiring at 23, saying he had nothing left to prove.
He has plenty to prove now with Coates very much Elliott’s selection.
So too does former federal sports minister Grahame Richardson and all-time hockey master coach Ric Charlesworth.
No doubt many more will show their hand in the coming week, as there’s a lot at stake.
Roche has nothing to lose, while Coates has plenty.
If Roche wins, Coates will automatically lose all his IOC positions, which will have a devastating effect given how hard it is to crack the IOC inner sanctum.
Next Saturday’s result will be decided by the Australian sporting federations, and how they vote.
Hopefully those sports won’t vote from the same left field that installed Donald Trump as US President, exited Great Britain from Europe, and decided two unknowns will fight out the French Presidency.
They just must make sure John Coates is the one.
JoM
Guest
Plenty of it is due to Coates' leadership
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Indeed. The measure works on the assumption that the rest of the World is stagnant. Measures such as youth participation rates in AOC sanctioned sports, coach support and quality across sports, quality of and access to regional and national competitions matter far more.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Herb Elliott was on SEN this morning - he also tried to push a bit of a Melb journos vendetta against Coates. And then mentioned about his important role as #2 on the IOC. Ironically defended the drop in medals due to the lack of cash - esp compared to the big spending Poms (and their national lottery). The thing that gets me on all of this - the AOC and gold medals - it's smoke and mirrors. Medals at the Olympics are a poor qualitative measure. Once every 4 years we work out if we're doing a good job???
Arky
Guest
Article does not contain an explanation of why one or the other is better, just the politics of who supports whom. Coates has been in position for 27 years. There really ought to have been a succession plan, so that there is another Australian in a good position vis a vis the IOC for when Coates goes. Instead Coates seems to have done the opposite, made himself indispensable rather than doing what's best for Australia. This should not be rewarded. He's got to go eventually. Father Time is unbeaten. As such, since those IOC roles will eventually be lost to Australia no matter what, can't keep Coates on just for those. It's not like we're running to host the Olympics again this cycle.
Matt Jones
Guest
good to see the octogenarians sticking together
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I must confess I was also bemused by the Sydney v Melbourne analogy. As long as the person holds Australian citizenship then where they reside is utterly irrelevant.
Basil
Guest
a 67 year old who uses the c-word is just plain embarrassing!
Perry Bridge
Guest
Apparently my first effort at querying the reduction of this topic to a Sydney vs Melbourne stoush was moderated out. Let me just say politely that I am surprised that this topic can be so simplified. However - I am not quite so surprised that it has been so simplified from North of the Murrumbidgee.
Marcus
Guest
it is very interesting that both sides seem to be using members of the media to get their messages out. I hope that Lordy is only jumping in of his own accord. If the Coates camp has actually reached out to him, then THAT is reason enough why Roche should be elected. Only this morning Roche stated that Coates could stay on to complete various roles and functions within the IOC - and at any rate, his vice presidency comes to the end of its term in three months. So the plaintive cries that are being made about losing influence at the IOC - well, it is going to happen a to a large degree anyway. Lord raises no other substantive reason for Coates. Danni Roche is a gold medallist. Coates was a coxswain. Go Danni!
TJ
Guest
It is SYD vs MEL, so therein lies your answer, even David I think assumes we all know that. David only focuses on NSW, and more specifically SYD related athletes and topics.
Tigranes
Guest
Maybe Lord is a mate of Coates? Just because someone has held the same position for over a quarter of a century doesn't mean they are solely qualified to do the job. I understand that whilst the AOC is in a strong financial position, how much is that due to COATES' leadership?
northerner
Guest
Like others, I'm having difficulty understanding Mr. Lord's argument. He thinks Coates should remain, but hasn't actually explained why. Longevity in office is not a particularly good reason (as John Howard discovered to his pain), so what is it that Mr. Coates brings to the table that no one else can offer? Perhaps Mr. Lord can better articulate his reasons for feeling the way he does. And appeals to authority do not constitute a justification either.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
And again, are you going to provide ANY argument as to why Coates should be given the job?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
It does nothing of the sort. All that shows is that Charlesworth has benefited from his relationship with Coates. Old boys club in action.
David Lord
Expert
IOC removal has NOTHING to do with why John Coates should retain the AOC presidency, it's a direct result should he lose. The other "toxic" issues, as you put it, between Mike Tancred, Fiona de Jong, and Kitty Chiller are small potatoes compared to the presidency.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
What policy and direction do both candidates propose that makes one or the other a better bet? Whilst I appreciate that someone who has been at the administrative peak for two decades longer than the alternate will have more high-level contacts, this isn't the defining attribute as to what is needed for the AOC.
David Lord
Expert
CtD, I'm waiting for a Roarer to ask the question why hasn't Danni Roche received public support from her Olympic gold medal coach Ric Charlesworth. Nobody would know her better under pressure. If she is such a great alternative to John Coates, surely Charlesworth would be jumping to her support? But he hasn't for the simple reason Charlesworth is solidly behind Coates, which should tell the 94 eligible to vote on Saturday that John Coates is still the right person for the job.
Anthony
Guest
Drain the swamp! Coates & his $700,000+ has to go. I am sick of this foul-mouthed official thinking that he is not answerable to anyone. And maybe at the same time the AOC should move its office to Melbourne.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I note that Lord doesn't actually provide any argument for the premise of the article.
Happy Hooker
Guest
The proposition that Coates cannot be removed because he is an IOC Vice-president is ludicrous. He can preside over a toxic work environment where bullying by at least one individual goes unchecked, but he can't be removed in a democratic process. We are better than this!