WEIGHT ALMOST OVER
DAMON Kelly has the weight of his family on his shoulders — and he could not be happier.
The champion weightlifter has been joined in training by two of his three boys — Tom, 3, and Paddy, 5 — as he prepares to enter the athletes village for his fourth Commonwealth Games.
The boxing team were among the first Australian athletes to arrive on the Coast yesterday as the countdown to the start of the Games nears its final week.
AUSTRALIA’S Commonwealth Games team boss expects his athletes to restore the faith lost in the wake of the ball tampering scandal in South Africa.
Chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said the Games presented an opportunity to “do some great things for the sporting culture of Australia”.
“The timing is out of our control and that’s not going to detract from my enjoyment of seeing this team come together,” the former champion runner said about the dark cloud hanging over the Australian cricket team.
“If anything, I’m looking at the positives and it’s an opportunity for them to really ... do some great things for the sporting culture of Australia.
“There’ll be some great stories about what Australians are doing in ... their performances, but (also) the way they conduct themselves and the sporting culture that Australia represents here at the Games.
“And it’s incumbent upon (our athletes) to take on that mantle and practice what we preach.”
That culture will be led by the flag bearer, who will be named on April 2 at the offical team reception and will act as captain for the Australian team.
While Mr Moneghetti said the flag bearer had not yet been decided, Gold Coast hurdler Sally Pearson is among the standout candidates.
Whoever it is, Mr Moneghetti said it was a sterling opportunity to display the traits he believed reflected Australian sport.
“The flag bearer doesn’t only carry the flag in front of the team at the opening ceremony, they’re in a leadership role,” he said.
“By the nature of that, they’re the team captain.
“So within that comes responsibilities but also opportunity to lead, stand up and display some characteristics that we think are more representative of Australian sport.”
The first Australian athletes headed into the village yesterday. They included boxers Skye Nicolson and Jason Whateley.
The pair said they were at the Games to do a job and did not want to talk about what was happening in South Africa. “We’re just going to go out there and do what Aussies do and give it our all,” Mr Whateley said.
Ms Nicolson said the cricket scandal would not detract from the Games.
“I think we’re here to do our job and we’re not going to let any negative outside things affect us. We’re here to win gold for Australia.”