John Brumby and his Minister for Sport have broken another promise by sanctioning a ban on Victoria’s elite and high-level figure skaters from training with their coaches at Dockland’s new Icehouse facility.
Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said the facility, billed by the Brumby Government as the home of Australian Olympic Winter Sport, refused to allow skaters to train with anyone but in-house coaches.
“Victoria’s elite skaters are continuing to train at the cramped and ageing rink at Oakleigh because they are not allowed to bring their own coaches to the Icehouse,” Mr Delahunty said.
“Two weeks ago the Brumby Government described the Icehouse as a ‘great pathway for our next crop of winter athletes’.
“Victorian taxpayers contributed $10 million to the development of this facility, yet our best skaters are denied proper coaching because Icehouse management is dictating who can and cannot use the rink.
“John Brumby and his Minister for Sport must now explain what obligations it placed on the developers of the Icehouse to allow access to elite athletes and their coaches.”
Mr Delahunty said some of Australia’s top coaches, including former Olympians, had been told they could not coach their athletes at the new facility.
“Some of the biggest names in figure skating including former Olympian Mandy Woetzel, Billy Schober and Duncan Smart have been asked not to coach,” Mr Delahunty said.
“The Victorian Professional Skating Association has notified the Brumby Government of the situation but the Minister for Sport is not listening and has failed to act.
“The Brumby Government is risking the future of a rising crop of stars and Australia’s chances at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics by failing to address this situation.
“If our up-and-coming skaters are forced to change coaches now, they could lose their opportunity to represent Victoria and Australia at international competitions.
“The Brumby Government must resolve this problem or the Icehouse will become nothing more than a very expensive facility for recreational skaters,” Mr Delahunty said.
Media contact: Hugh Delahunty (03) 5382 0097
