Olympics boss accusses NRL and AFL of hogging all the sports funding

The Australian Olympic Committee has accused sports such as the NRL and AFL of hogging all the funding and being detrimental to other Aussie athletes.

AOC boss Matt Carroll has lashed out at the lack of funding for sports outside of the two top codes in the country.

He says that the country could be looking at failure come the home Olympic and Commonwealth games in 2032 and 2026 respectively due to a $2 billion shortfall in government funding.

He told the National Press Club, via Daily Mail: “Not everyone wants to be a rugby league player. Believe it or not.

“What the Olympic and Paralympic and Commonwealth games sports get told is ‘there is no more money’.

“A few weeks later, as we get closer to elections, there will be a new stadium or an extension or a high-performance centre [for an NRL club].”

The committee is after the federal government to establish a dedicated department of sports to fight against the chronic decline in investment.

REUTERS / Alamy

Carroll believes that $200 million a year over a decade is needed to be invested come 2032 when Brisbane hosts the Olympics.

He said: “I've worked for two of the biggest sports - rugby and football - where they generate billions of dollars in broadcast revenue. Congratulations on them.

“But what I'm saying is, to make meaningful investments into sport, you can't just say 'we'll give $100 million there and $2 million there and three over there' without any actual strategy to what you're doing.

“Don't just spend money in one spot without actually thinking about the whole strategy and the investment in sport across the country.”

Carroll delivered a detailed strategy outlining a new vision for sport in Australia - ensuring a coordinated approach to sport in government.

He suggested that other portfolios would benefit from the establishment of a dedicated department, such as health, education, regional development, foreign affairs, tourism, and trade.

He continued: “The election of Brisbane as host of the 35th Olympiad has gifted Australia a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

"But simply successfully hosting the Brisbane Games is not going to deliver the positive outcomes that can be achieved, the generational legacy benefits for the nation.

"To do this, we must have a unity of purpose that transcends politics, lobby groups and fixed thinking."