Australian Olympic Team Partners with WAB
This week WAB signed an agreement with the Australian
Olympic Committee (AOC) to establish a partnership
for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, which will open
up tremendous opportunities for WAB students and families
to engage, hands-on, with next summer’s Games.
As a Beijing 2008 Olympic Education Model School, WAB
is encouraged to establish a partnership with a country
competing in the 2008 Games.
WAB’s partnership with the AOC exceeds this
expectation in a unique and exciting way for the WAB
community.
During the 2008 Games, the Australian Olympic Team
will utilize the WAB campus and facilities as a ‘home
away from home’ from the Official Olympic Village.
WAB will support the team by offering its facilities
to be utilized as a storehouse for uniform distribution;
a recovery center for athletes; and a base for athletes
and families to fraternize outside of the Olympic Village.
The Australian Olympic Team has taken a world lead in
applying the recovery center concept to the Olympic
Games.
The team plans to use the WAB pool, running track and
weights and fitness center as recovery stations for athletes.
The ES gym, Lotus Lounge and HUB will also be utilized
for points of distribution and family fellowship.
AOC is also looking at a wide range of partnering activities
with the WAB community itself and exploring unique opportunities
for students and families to be involved with the Olympic
team.
In addition, WAB will receive numerous opportunities
to support the Australian team over the coming year,
as athletes, coaches and officials visit China for Olympic
trials and other preliminary events.
Therefore, WAB anticipates offering more opportunities,
such as this week’s visit from US Olympic athletes,
for WAB student athletes and community members to engage
in meaningful hands-on activities with current and upcoming
Olympic medalists.
The Australian Olympic team will likely comprise 500
athletes and 350 officials competing in 27 of the 28
Olympic sports.
They are expected to be the 3rd or 4th largest team
in the Games and the largest team Australia has ever
put forward in a game, with the exception of Sydney.
Australia expects to be one of the top five medal winners;
they were in the top four tiers in Sydney and Athens.
In two weeks time, the New Zealand Olympic Committee
will be visiting WAB.
We’re anticipating signing a similar agreement
with the NZ team, which will use the HS facilities as
their family center.
By hosting these countries during the Olympic Games,
WAB will be sharing the Olympic spirit with the whole
community, as an Olympic Education Model School. |
