GB And Australia Form Paralympic Deal
The British Paralympic Association and the Australian Paralympic Committee have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the two bodies work together to develop further opportunities for Paralympic sport in the run-up to London 2012.
The two organisations have agreed to specifically exchange information on marketing and legal issues but will also encourage athlete exchanges between the two nations in order to develop competitive opportunities.
Greg Hartung, APC president and Darren Peters, APC chief executive, travelled to the UK last week to meet with the organising committee for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as visiting potential training venues for the Australian Paralympic team ahead of the Games in London in five years time.
The agreement, which is the first of its kind for either the British or Australian organisations, should mark a close working relationship between the two nations, who have always been rivals on the field of play.
Both nations have traditionally been among the top performing nations at the Games and in 2000 Australia topped the medal table at their home Games in Sydney, with GB finishing in second place. GB then reversed these fortunes in Athens in 2004 to finish second behind China, but ahead of Australia in fifth place.
