The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has amended its constitution to ensure there’s a permanent Indigenous voice on the AOC Athletes’ Commission.
The Annual General Meeting on Saturday passed an amendment that will require at least one Aboriginal and one Torres Strait Island representative on the Commission.
These members may be elected by athletes competing at a Summer or Winter Games – or directly appointed by the AOC Executive following advice from the AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), if no Indigenous athletes were elected.
The move comes a day after basketball star Liz Cambage threatened to boycott the Tokyo Games.
Cambage took to Instagram to call out what she believed was a 'whitewashed' promotional shoot last week.
In a series of posts, the 29-year-old criticised the Australian Olympic Team for two photoshoots for Jockey Australia and Asics.
"If I've said it once I've said it a million times," Cambage posted on her first slide.
"HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T EVEN REPRESENT ME #whitewashedaustralia."
The comments attracted a huge amount of criticism, with Cambage responding on Instagram: "I DO NOT CARE FOR A WHITE MAN’S OPINION ON RACIAL ISSUES. NEVER HAVE. NEVER WILL," Cambage wrote on Instagram.
On Saturday, AOC President John Coates said the AOC’s commitment to reconciliation has gained significant momentum since the Constitution was amended in 2015 to recognise the heritage, culture and history of Australia’s first peoples and to give practical support to Indigenous reconciliation through sport.
“That was an important first step back then, and this is another today. I congratulate the Athletes’ Commission and its Chair Steve Hooker for this initiative. They have worked hand in hand with our Indigenous Advisory Committee led by Patrick Johnson to ensure we continue to make real progress.
“Next month, the AOC will launch its “Reflect” Reconciliation Action Plan. In July this year, a new group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes will fly to Tokyo to represent Australia as Olympians in Tokyo, adding to the 52 very proud Australian Indigenous Olympians.
“Our Team will carry a piece of ASICS kit which features a design by Indigenous Olympic boxer Paul Fleming. And we have appointed Olympian hurdler Kyle Vander Kuyp to our Olympian Services Team for Tokyo.
“The AOC will continue to promote the stories of our Indigenous Olympians. They are incredible role models.
Chair of the AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee Patrick Johnson says the cooperation between the IAC and the AOC Athletes’ Commission has had a positive impact on both groups.
“As an Olympian, a proud Kaanju man and Chair of the IAC, I am a great believer in timing. My thanks to Athletes’ Commission Chair Steve Hooker for his drive to achieve this recognition. The time was right for this constitutional change to create mutual understanding and respect through a journey of walking together.
“With Steve’s help, we conducted the “Walk with Us” forum held in late 2020 which reinforced my view that we can successfully engage and create awareness among Olympians and fellow athletes. Recognition, acknowledgment, and reconciliation. They are big words, to have real meaning, we need to lead by example. We have a long way to go, but we have taken another important step.”
AOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Steve Hooker says the Commission is immensely proud to have achieved this outcome with the AOC’s Member Sports passing the resolution.
“Engagement with Patrick and his colleagues on the Indigenous Advisory Committee has made a significant impact on me in every respect. Having the opportunity to sit in on Indigenous Advisory Committee meetings has created that opportunity for us to share knowledge.
“Today’s Constitutional change will create an enduring legacy for Indigenous advancement through sport. Olympians and our Olympic sport have a huge opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to reconciliation.”
