Former Australian Olympian David Culbert says he expects John Coates to cling onto the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) presidency, when it goes to a vote next week.
He believes the complex voting system and support from smaller sports will help the 27-year veteran overcome the challenge of former Hockeyroo Danni Roche.
“The voting system is very complex and it’s broad,” Culbert said on Hungry for Sport.
“There are a lot of the smaller sports, winter sports, other members of the executive, state Olympic councils, etcetera that will be every supportive of the work John has done, the very significant work that John has done in the past to help develop Olympic sport in Australia.
“He’s saying that he’s only going to be there for another two years, so they will say let’s go for another two years, and then he can have a transition and we will go from there.
“I’d be shocked if there’s a change.”
Culbert said while Coates’ current image has taken a battering, amid accusations of bullying within the organisation, unless delegates from particular sports have come across such actions it won’t be enough to sway voting.
“Not unless it has affected them personally, I think it would wash over many of the sports delegates that are making that vote,” he said.
“I think they will take it on board, but I don’t think it will be enough to sway their vote.”
Earlier on SEN Breakfast, Roach hit out at the environment afforded to our athletes at multi-sport events, declaring the AOC’s relationship with the Australian Sports Commission as ‘’dysfunctional’’.
“If I am elected the President (I) will make it a priority to repair the relationship between the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC),” she said.
“The Australian Sports Commission is the major funder of sport in Australia, and for the Olympic committee to not have a good relationship with the Sports Commission creates not a great, harmonious environment for our athletes.
“It is dysfunctional.”