Latest news with #MarkArbib
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Do not get involved': Arbib's warning to Australian Olympians about Enhanced Games
Australian Olympic Committee chief Mark Arbib has warned any Australian athletes who are considering a tilt at the Enhanced Games next year to think again, saying their involvement would not be supported or sanctioned. Arbib has taken a dim view of plans for the Enhanced Games to be launched next year in Las Vegas, including events in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting and with a format that will pit clean athletes against those who have taken performance-enhancing drugs under supervision for the same lucrative prize money. 'It's a dangerous and risky venture,' Arbib said on Friday. 'People need to remember drugs in sport are banned primarily for health reasons. We care about the welfare of the athletes. We care about the welfare of the community. Taking drugs can negatively impact your health, but it can also lead to death. 'So any event that is promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs, promoting the use of steroids, is not something that we would ever be associated with or sanction. 'It's the complete opposite of what the Olympic movement stands for. We stand for a level playing field. We stand for the principles of Olympism. And this venture, this commercial venture, is about making money and about undermining the global anti-drug enforcement strategies and networks that are in place.' Founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games plans to pay $US250,000 for each gold medal and $US1 million to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle swimming. Organisers say all athletes – clean or enhanced – will be paid appearance fees, which is where temptation might creep in for Olympians to consider entering, in the knowledge that they would not have to take drugs or otherwise risk their health or status. However, the concern among those across sporting bodies is that that could potentially legitimise what is one of the most contentious and controversial ventures ever seen in modern sport.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Do not get involved': Arbib's warning to Australian Olympians about Enhanced Games
Australian Olympic Committee chief Mark Arbib has warned any Australian athletes who are considering a tilt at the Enhanced Games next year to think again, saying their involvement would not be supported or sanctioned. Arbib has taken a dim view of plans for the Enhanced Games to be launched next year in Las Vegas, including events in swimming, athletics, and weightlifting and with a format that will pit clean athletes against those who have taken performance-enhancing drugs under supervision for the same lucrative prize money. 'It's a dangerous and risky venture,' Arbib said on Friday. 'People need to remember drugs in sport are banned primarily for health reasons. We care about the welfare of the athletes. We care about the welfare of the community. Taking drugs can negatively impact your health, but it can also lead to death. 'So any event that is promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs, promoting the use of steroids, is not something that we would ever be associated with or sanction. 'It's the complete opposite of what the Olympic movement stands for. We stand for a level playing field. We stand for the principles of Olympism. And this venture, this commercial venture, is about making money and about undermining the global anti-drug enforcement strategies and networks that are in place.' Founded by Australian entrepreneur Aron D'Souza, the Enhanced Games plans to pay $US250,000 for each gold medal and $US1 million to anyone who breaks a world record in the 100m sprint or 50m freestyle swimming. Organisers say all athletes – clean or enhanced – will be paid appearance fees, which is where temptation might creep in for Olympians to consider entering, in the knowledge that they would not have to take drugs or otherwise risk their health or status. However, the concern among those across sporting bodies is that that could potentially legitimise what is one of the most contentious and controversial ventures ever seen in modern sport.
Reuters
02-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Australia's new Olympic chief hopes to leverage Brisbane 2032 in battle for talent
MELBOURNE, April 2 (Reuters) - Incoming Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief Mark Arbib hopes the 2032 Brisbane Games will persuade the nation's talented young athletes to pursue medals over football careers. Australian Rules football and rugby league have long dominated the country's professional sports market, offering the kind of salaries and support to young athletes that Olympic sports struggle to match. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Arbib, confirmed on Wednesday as the replacement for outgoing Chief Executive Matt Carroll, said the AOC needed to compete hard against the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Australian Football League (AFL) to lure talent. "I am a big fan of the NRL and a big fan of the AFL, I love those sports," he told reporters in Sydney. "They are absolute commercial giants, they are juggernauts. "And we need to ensure that we are on a playing field and that we are fighting for every dollar and for every athlete. "Because they are working very hard and they have been very successful in what they are doing. "For me, that is one of the greatest challenges ... fighting for athlete talent. "Brisbane is the best way for us to leverage that." A long-serving AOC board member and former federal sports minister, Arbib has held various roles in sports administration, including posts at the World Anti-Doping Agency and directorships at professional sports clubs such as NRL team South Sydney and A-League soccer team Sydney FC. One of the 53-year-old's priorities will be securing more government funding to support Olympic athletes and ensure Australia builds on its record haul of 18 gold medals at the Paris Games. With 13 of those golds won in women's events, Arbib said the AOC were concerned about potential Olympians being lost to the women's competitions set up by the AFL and NRL in the past decade. "Their women's competitions are extremely successful, so we are competing for talent now in the women's sports space," said Arbib. "And what I don't want to see is that impacting upon our results. "We need to ensure we are inspiring kids to join us to become Olympic swimmers, to become Olympic athletes - that is the dream."
The Guardian
02-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
AOC appoints Mark Arbib as CEO for run-in to 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games
Sports administrator and former Labor government minister Mark Arbib said he wants to 'inspire and advance' the country after he was appointed chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee for the run-in to the 2032 Brisbane Games. The 53-year-old has served on the AOC's executive committee since 2016, and has been central in preparations for the 2032 Games as chair of the AOC's Brisbane Legacy and Impact Committee. He was previously a federal government sport minister and president of Athletics Australia for six years until 2021. Arbib said it was an honour to lead the Australian Olympic movement. 'The Olympics are the pinnacle of sport – both in Australia and across the globe,' he said. 'To be chosen as chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee, with a home Games in 2032, is an incredible opportunity to harness the power of the rings to inspire and advance our nation.' AOC president Ian Chesterman said Arbib's experience runs 'deep and wide' and he has demonstrated a passion for athletes. 'Mark is highly skilled in the workings of the sports system having served as president of Athletics Australia for six years,' he said. 'Together with his experience in government, business, fundraising and philanthropy, I look forward to him bringing his unique and compelling skillset to the operations of the AOC.' From his experience as a trade unionist in the 1990s, Arbib rose quickly in the right faction of the NSW Labor party in the 2000s. In 2007 he was elected a NSW senator at the age of 35, and was the first Labor frontbencher to publicly back same-sex marriage in 2010. As a so-called 'kingmaker', he played a major role in the party's tumultuous period when in 2010 Kevin Rudd was replaced as prime minister by Julia Gillard. But the saga triggered a change in his career. Arbib sensationally retired from politics in 2012 to help the party 'heal' following the first of three leadership spills faced by Gillard, and he subsequently pursued opportunities in sport and media. 'I've seen first hand the extraordinary power of the Olympic movement to unite and transform lives,' Arbib said. 'I've also had the pleasure of working alongside our national federations over many years and know well the important role they play in delivering all the great benefits sport brings to our communities. 'I am committed to working tirelessly for athletes – and making sure they are at the heart of everything we do. There are no better role models in sport.' Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion Arbib replaces Matt Carroll, who chose to resign to provide his successor with enough time to prepare for the 2032 Brisbane Games. The new chief executive commences in the role on 5 May.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arbib is new Australian Olympic Committee chief
Former federal sports minister Mark Arbib has been appointed as the Australian Olympic Committee's new chief executive. Arbib, who was federal sports minister in the Labor government from 2010-12 and is a former president of Australian Athletics, will start in the role next month following the departure of Matt Carroll. The 53-year-old, who has been on the AOC's executive committee since 2016, said he would put athletes at the forefront of his priorities in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. "Having served in senior roles across sport, government and business, including my nine years serving on the AOC executive, I've seen firsthand the extraordinary power of the Olympic movement to unite and transform lives," he said in a statement on Wednesday. "I've also had the pleasure of working alongside our national (sports) federations over many years and know well the important role they play in delivering all the great benefits sport brings to our communities. "I am committed to working tirelessly for athletes and making sure they are at the heart of everything we do." Introducing our incoming CEO, Mark Arbib brings to the role 30-years of high-profile leadership experience in sports administration, commercial strategy and governance. He will begin his new role on Monday 5th May, story: — AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) April 1, 2025 When federal sports minister, Arbib drove the creation of the national match-fixing policy, later transformed into Sport Integrity Australia, and he has also served on the board of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Arbib led a 2012 governance review into the Australian Rugby Union and has served on boards of A-League club Sydney FC and the NRL's South Sydney Rabbitohs. AOC president Ian Chesterman said Arbib was the ideal person to replace Carroll, who was chief executive from 2017. "Mark's senior experience across Australia's sporting landscape runs deep and wide," Chesterman said in a statement. "But alongside those credentials, he's also serving in his 10th year on the AOC executive and brings a demonstrated passion for the Olympic movement, our sports and athletes. "Together with his experience in government, business, fundraising and philanthropy, I look forward to him bringing his unique and compelling skillset to the operations of the AOC. "I know he possesses the vision, drive and energy required to advance the Olympic movement in Australia so that all the opportunities presented by Brisbane 2032 are realised."
