The Australian Olympic Committee has acknowledged the ongoing support the Olympic family are providing to the Australian community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Olympians have swapped team kit for scrubs to work on the front line, Partners are providing tangible help to assist the Australian community and member sports are helping make sport accessible for people at home.
AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the AOC is proud of the work being done across Australia during the period of lockdown and ongoing into the initial stages of a return to sport.
"Olympic athletes, their sports and our Partners have shown great commitment and spirit to help lift the community during this time as the country stares down this crisis," Mr Carroll said.
"Olympians like Rachael Lynch, Paul Adams and many others are on the front line as medical workers; our member sports are working with their athletes, staff and community to get through these uncertain times and keep sport accessible for the community; and the Australian Institute of Sport and state institutes have been providing vital advice and information to ensure athletes and sporting groups have stayed safe.
"The AOC is fortunate to have Partners that not only support our Olympic athletes, but have devoted time, energy and practical assistance to the Australian community.
"Toyota Australia have designed and produced faceshields and cooked and delivered meals for frontline healthcare workers, Woolworths have partnered with hunger relief organisations to help Australian’s in need and vulnerable, and were the first supermarket to introduce special shopping hours for the elderly and Healthcare and Emergency Service workers, and Cadbury has donated $100,000 to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, over 1.6 million Easter eggs to hospitals, paramedics, aged care homes and those in quarantine across the country, as well as a range of food products to Foodbank and SecondBite.
"Swisse has donated funds and products, Optus has increased capacity to keep Australia connected, Qantas is operating vital freight services and ASICS and Danone have introduced free online content series to keep Australians healthy and active. Airbnb’s Frontline Stays program offers places to stay for those fighting the spread of Covid-19 – these are just a snapshot of the tangible work being done across the Olympic Partner family.
"The AOC is grateful to work with Partners who have stepped up in the face of this crisis. Thank you for your support for not only Australian Olympians but the Australian community."
Mr Carroll says the AOC looks forward to the time Australians can get back into their sports and Olympic hopefuls can return to full training and competition, helping communities reconnect right across Australia.
"We also understand that we must stick at it when it comes to our social distancing protocols and the Return to Sport Framework the AIS has laid out.
"Australians have shown great patience and resolve, so now is not the time to rush. We need to keep sport and our community safe."
Dual Olympic medallist Jess Fox acknowledged the fantastic work being done in the community.
"There are so many athletes doing incredible work, like Jo Brigden-Jones, Georgie Rowe and so many others on the front line – it’s inspiring seeing them throw themselves into something so important," Fox said.
"This is so much bigger than sport, and it’s uplifting to see the Olympic family contribute to the community, from Toyota making faceshields for frontline workers to trying to keep people engaged and healthy while being safe at home."
25-year-old canoeist Fox is also one of several Australian Olympians encouraging Australians to complete at home fitness challenges with the YoPro challenge.
"While we’re all adapting to our different routines, it was great to be part of a program to help people get active, make healthy choices and try to find mindfulness while staying at home.
"It’s been so positive seeing so many athletes and organisations jump in to help others however they can, and it makes me proud to be part of the Australian Olympic community."
Further information on how Olympic Partners are supporting the community is available here.
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