Australian Olympic Committee

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is the National Olympic Committee responsible for developing, promoting, and protecting the Olympic Movement in Australia. The AOC has the exclusive responsibility for the representation of Australia at the Olympic Games (Summer and Winter), the Youth Olympic Games and at Regional Games patronized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). All National Olympic Committees (currently 205 worldwide) are constituents of the International Olympic Committee.

In 1895, Australasia (a team composed of Australian and New Zealander athletes) achieves recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). One year later, Australasian delegates competed at the 1896 Athens Olympics, with Australia being represented by Edwin Flack. Flack won two gold medals, becoming the first Australian Olympian and the first Australian medallist; their participation marked the beginning of Australia's unbroken representation at the Olympic Games. In 1905, Richard Coombes became Australia's first International Olympic Committee member when he replaced New Zealander Leonard Cuff who represented Australasia. In 1914, the Olympic Federation of Australia and New Zealand (OFANZ) was established. In 1920, New Zealand left the OFANZ and the Australian Olympic Council was established with James Taylor being its first president. In August 1923, the Australian Olympic Council changed its name to the Australian Olympic Federation (AOF) – an identity it was to hold until 1990 when it was renamed the Australian Olympic Committee. After decades of success since its creation, the outcry over Australia's declining performances in Montreal 1976 led to the creation of the Federal Government-funded Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), a body with a close relationship with the AOC, providing essential assistance to athletes directly in their preparation for the Olympic Games. The AOC's commitment to winter sport saw the formation of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) after Nagano 1998 to enable the development of elite performances in winter sports by Australian athletes.

Australia has hosted two Summer Olympics: 1956 Melbourne Olympics and 2000 Sydney Olympics. Brisbane, Queensland made a bid for the 1992 Summer Olympics and Melbourne, Australia made a bid for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Both failed. But, in June 2021, it was announced that Brisbane would host the 2032 Summer Olympics, marking Australia's third hosting of the games.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) is an independent, incorporated not-for-profit organization for the development of youth and sport in Australia. The AOC is responsible (for the International Olympic Committee (IOC)) to develop, promote and protect the Olympic movement in Australia in accordance with the Olympic Charter, and for selecting the Team that represents Australia at the Olympic Games, after considering nominations by each National Sport Federation. The AOC also selects Teams for Youth Olympic Games and Regional Games, such as the Pacific Games.

The AOC is composed of 44 member National Sport Federations, representing each sport on the Olympic program for the Summer Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games.

The AOC Executive comprises the President, Ian Chesterman, and Vice Presidents Evelyn Halls and Matt Allen who were elected along with him in 2022. The Chief Executive Officer is Mark Arbib.

Patron in Chief is the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, General Sam Mostyn, and Patron is the Prime Minister of Australia, currently The Hon Anthony Albanese MP.

The AOC has an Athletes' Commission, responsible for advising the AOC Executive on all matters pertaining to the Olympic Movement from an athlete's perspective. The Chair is Cate Campbell (Swimming) while the Deputy Chair is Ken Wallace (Paddle) and remaining members are Andrew Charter (Hockey), Taliqua Clancy (Beach Volleyball), Jessica Fox (Paddle), Cameron Girdlestone (Rowing), Rachael Lynch (Hockey), Greta Small (Alpine Skiing), Brodie Summers (Freestyle Skiing - Moguls), Rowie Webster, (Water Polo) and Alex Winwood (Boxing).