Qld:Swimming Queensland funds slashed despite Olympic success

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Qld:Swimming Queensland funds slashed despite Olympic success

STEPHANIE RICE's swimming coach MICHAEL BOHL has slammed the Queensland government's
decision to slash Swimming Queensland's funding.

Mr BOHL .. an Australian Olympic swimming coach .. says the cut in grass roots funding
will result in Australia falling behind Great Britain .. China and Japan in the pool at
the 2012 Olympic Games.

Swimming Queensland chief executive KEVIN HASEMANN says their former budget of 280
thousand dollars per year will be gradually sliced to the point where it's 150 thousand
dollars less per year.

Mr BOHL says grass roots funding is the reason for Australia's success in the pool
.. and he says more is needed .. not less.

But Sports Minister JUDY SPENCE says funding to Swimming Queensland will stay at 250
thousand dollars a year until 2010 .. with other funding available for special initiatives
.. and funding beyond that hasn't been worked out yet.

AAP RTV djb/crh

KEYWORD: SWIMMING (BRISBANE)

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