AOC’s blame game worries
AUSTRALIAN Olympic Committee president John Coates has refused to take any responsibility for a “toxic” culture, marked by favouritism, fear and open hostility.
Despite being at the head of the organisation, Coates repeatedly told reporters in Sydney yesterday he was not to blame for the toxic culture detailed in the 64-page report released following an independent review into the AOC workplace.
While the report did not find a bullying culture, it did unveil a “dysfunctional” organisation in a “perpetual state of emergency” but Coates insisted there was no reason for him to quit.
“Why should I resign,” he said. “There has been no confirmation of bullying. There’s been some criticisms of the senior leaders – I’m the president, I’m not the senior leader that’s been criticised.”
The review, headed by The Ethics Centre, was conducted following claims levelled at media director Mike Tancred, who has been stood down on full pay until the investigation into the senior AOC official and former chief executive Fiona de Jong is completed at the end of the month.
Interviews with past and present AOC employees found there was a toxic environment, with “senior leaders undermining each other, working around each other, and openly displaying hostility towards each other”. Some junior staffers described being exposed to “public” shaming, but Coates says that had nothing to do with him.
“No public shaming by me,” he said.
“There’s been no treatment of staff by me that’s objectionable. There’s plenty of statements of the staff having pride in me and what I’ve achieved and what I continue to do for the movement. I’m happy to be judged on that.”
Asked what he is willing to take responsibility for, Coates answered by trumpeting the appointment of the AOC’s new chief executive Matt Carroll and the Olympic team’s past successes.
The AOC also announced that Ian Chesterman will be Chef de Mission for the Tokyo 2020 Games, replacing Kitty Chiller. Chesterman has served as team leader at five Winter Olympics.