ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/21/2001 30 November 2001
Australia and India to share expertise in sports workshop
Australia and India are set to reinforce their sporting links when they share expertise on sports coaching in a workshop in New Delhi next week.
The Multi-disciplinary Sports Coaching Workshop at the Indira Gandhi Stadium will be inaugurated by the Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Ms Uma Bharti, on 3 December.
A collaborative effort of the Sports Authority of India and the Australian Sports Commission, the six-day workshop will draw on Australia's experience from the Sydney Olympics. Four Australian experts will interact with about 100 of India's top sports administrators, coaches, athletes, Olympic Association representatives, sports scientists, doctors and sporting industry representatives.
Subjects will include: ways to establish successful sporting systems; planning for performance; injury minimisation; accreditation systems in sports education; community and elite sports; sports administration and management; application of sports science to coaching; and principles of coaching and international sports development.
"This workshop builds upon the solid foundation of the 1999 bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Sports Cooperation, and demonstrates yet another aspect of the broad-based relationship between Australia and India," said Australian Deputy High Commissioner Mr Bryce Hutchesson.
The workshop, supported by the Australia-India Council, is the latest step in a long-term collaboration between the Australian Sports Commission and the Sports Authority of India. This has included workshops during Australia's 1996 "New Horizons" program and the development and signature of the 1999 bilateral MoU, the scope of which includes training for athletes, teams and coaches, exchange programs and visits by sports leaders and sports science personnel, and the development of sports science.
The MoU ushered in a series of activities and programs, funded mainly by the Australia-India Council. Swimming, kayaking and hockey workshops were held in 1999, followed by familiarisation and training visits to Australia by two Indian sports scientists in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics. Former Olympics CEO Sandy Hollway visited India in September 2001 to share insights on organising the "best Games ever".
Australia-India sporting links also extend to a continuing official dialogue on the problem of drugs in sport.
For further information, please contact Ms. Julie-Ann Guivarra, Second Secretary (Political), or Mr. Shekhar Nambiar (Manager, Public Affairs & Cultural Relations) Australian High Commission, at 688 8223, extension 196 & 460, respectively.