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Athletics International

Athletics International

Abbreviation	A.I.
Formation	1968
Location	Melbourne, Australia
Patron	Ron Clarke MBE

On returning from the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, it became apparent to many of the athletes who had represented Australia and those who would represent Australia in the future, that athletics needed extra support if it was going to be competitive on the international stage. An athlete created and supported body, Athletics International, was formed.

The Philosophy

"To put back in to the sport what they had gained"

This was not financial, as these were the times of true amateurism. It was to support and encourage others to reach their own expectations and reap enjoyment and satisfaction from the sport. A lofty ideal, and one that is strange amongst high profile, international level sports people, but one which prevailed and led to the formation of an organisation, with no government funding whatsoever, that has been integral in maintaining the health of athletics in Australia.

Formation

Athletics International, (A.I.), was formed in late 1968 in the backyard of multiple world recordholder Ron Clarke at his home in outer suburban Melbourne. The informal meeting of tracksuit clad agreed that "something had to be done" if Australian athletes were going to continue to be competitive on the world scene. And rather than wait for someone else, they decided to do it themselves.

The inaugural Chairman was Ray Weinberg, followed by John Landy.

The Approach

The achievement of its goal was to develop with time and the changing circumstances of local and international athletics. Initially, it was competition-based - promoting athletic meetings so our athletes could compete with the world's best, who were invited by A.I.. Later it was to send our promising young athletes overseas for experience and to provide much needed equipment, such as a Pole Vault facility.

Athletics International. also produced a book, Athletics The Australian Way, with A.I. athletes, inlcuding Ron Clarke, Herb Elliott, Ray Weinberg and Peter Norman contributing a chapter on their specialty events and experiences. The book sold very well - a couple of editions - and provided funds to assist A.I. in carrying out its goals.

In the late 70’s, following the Montreal Olympic Games, there was a significant change in the Australian Government's approach to funding sport. It established the Australian Institute of Sport and progressively established satellite institutes in each state, and introduced funding support to both athletes and administration bodies. This resulted in A.I. placing its activities on hold and it wasn’t until the late 90’s that A.I. Incorporated re-established itself.

Competition based Approach

A.I. promoted a number of athletic meetings during the 70's and 80's, inviting and funding some of the world's best athletes to come to Melbourne and provide world class competition for the local stars. The list of athletes that A.I. invited reads like a "Who's Who":

• Jim Ryun - World mile and 1500m. recordholder
• Martin McGrady - World indoor 600 yards recordholder - "The Chairman of the Boards"
• John Carlos , - 1968 200m. bronze medalist and best sprinter in the world in 1970
• Mel Pender - 1968 Olympics 100m. finalist
• Bob Seagren - 1968 Gold medalist in the Pole Vault and multiple Word Record holder
• Wayne Collett - Silver medalist 1972 Olympic Games 400m.

- and many, many others ...

Transition

With the rebirth of AI Inc its mission changed somewhat to provide a vehicle for former and current elite athletes to maintain an involvement and interest in and to provide support for athletics in Australia. Funds held in account during the lay period had been wisely invested by former sprinter and stock broker, Brian Randall, and following consultation with with John Landy and John Murray, The Athletics International Trust was established to created a fund which could be used to financially support athletes and coaches of the future. Its purpose to merely safeguard the funds for non–profit purposes offering support for the sport of Athletics.

The inaugural Trust was the great Australian miler, John Landy, followed by Brian Randall, and now Bill Hooker. Other directors include Graham Crouch, Australia's last Olympic 1500m. finalist in 1976, Pam Ryan, dual Olympic 80m hurdles medalist, Bob Lay, Olympic sprinter who still holds the Australian 100 yards record he set in 1965, Lisa Lightfoot, Olympic 800m, Brian Randall, former Australian sprinter, and the secretary, former miler John Murray.

Athletics International Inc., the organisation, is managed by a committee elected by the members and currently chaired by Bob Lay. Its current Membership nationally is over 200 and growing..

Financial Support Approach

Athletics International Trust has evolved as a major financial supporter of athletes. It has provided funds for athletes to continue their training, to assist with for support with travel for international competition, to help coaches and to youth Talent Squads coordinated by the parent body

Some of those who have received A.I grants are:

Athletes

• Steve Hooker - World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist in the Pole Vault at the Beijing Olympics. He received his first grant back in 2001.
• Sally McLellan (married name Pearson) - 2011 World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist in the 100m. hurdles at the Beijing Olympics. She received her first grant in 2003.
• Alana Boyd - 2010 Commonwealth Games Pole Vault Gold medalist.
• Scott Martin - 2006 Commonwealth Games Discus Gold medalist & Shot Put Bronze medalist.
• Sean Wroe - 2006 Commonwealth Games 4 x 400m. relay Gold medalist.
• John Steffensen - 2004 Olympic Games 4 x 400m. relay Silver medalist.
• Ben Harradine - Beijing Olympian and 2010 Commonwealth Games Shot Put Gold medalist.
• Chris Unthank - Olympic steeple chaser.
• Jana Pittman (married name Rawlinson) - World Champion 400m. hurdler was awarded A.I's Australian Athlete of the Year on two occasions.

Coaches

Many coaches have also benefited from the scheme, including:

• Pam Ryan - Olympian & former world recordholder in the 80m. hurdles
• Nicole Boegman - Olympic long jumper

- and many, many other athletes and coaches

Junior Talent Squads

In 2007, the A.I. Trust decided to put the individual grant scheme on hold. In its place, at the request of A.I. Inc., it agreed to provide grants to support Athletics Australia (A.A.) junior talent squads. In recent years, this has continued with significant financial support for A.A.'s junior High Performance Programme. More importantly, our Members, all of whom have represented Australia in international competition, are providing valuable mentoring, co-ordinated by former Commonwealth 400m representative Maxine Corcoran, all of whom have represented Australia in international competition.

Comment

As former elite Athletes we are committed to pass on our experiences to tomorrow's athletes.

What other sport would have created such a selfless support for the sport which had given its competitors so much enjoyment and satisfaction ? And these are people had "Paid To Play" ! It cost them to be part of their sport. Unlike most other international sports, and elite Australian athletics today, they were not paid for their prowess. Yet they committed and continue to commit their time and efforts to make Australian athletics competitive on the modern stage.

External links

• example.com
• Athletics The Australian Way.
• Gordon, Harry (1994). Australia and the Olympic Games. Brisbane: Harper Collins. ISBN 0 7022 2627 0.
• Lawson, Gerald (1997). World Record Breakers in Track & Field Athletics. U.S.A.: Human Kinetics. ISBN 0 88011-697-X. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)