Article by David Southwell, courtesy of Daily Mail Australia.
Gina Rinehart is celebrating Australia’s most successful Olympics, but still thinks there are things the nation could do better.
Mrs Rinehart, who spends around $10million a year supporting Australian athletes, was a constant presence in the stands cheering Aussie Olympians and also hosted them and their families to a no-expense-spared end-of-Games celebration.
The mining magnate told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that she loved being the ‘honorary godmother’ for the athletes she supports but thought ahead of Australia hosting the 2032 Olympics there should be a ‘culture change’.
‘I think we should learn from Europe, where countries have decided to cut the expenditure of the sports bodies and make better use of that funding directing instead to athletes and coaches,’ Mrs Rinehart said.
She said Britain was an example of ‘putting athletes and coaches first and directing money accordingly away from the sports bureaucracy to the athletes and coaches’.
‘Perhaps as a start, all those not athletes and coaches should be asked to provide publicly all their benefits, such as trips, hotels and restaurants, like politicians do,’ Mrs Rinehart suggested.
Mrs Rinehart also revealed some of what went down at the lavish party she held in a luxury glass-topped river boat on the Seine in Paris following the Games closing on Monday.
‘It was terrific to be with our Aussie medallists from swimming, rowing, equestrian, cycling and more, for their cruise on the Seine,’ she said.
‘[They are] truly fantastic young Aussies. Most had missed the Seine cruise for the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Hence my idea of the float for them.
‘The magician was amazing, and all enjoyed the 2GR wagyu and Italian opera singer Matteo Bocelli.
‘There was an encore on top of the boat, when (Australian swimmer and Paris silver and bronze medallist) Elijah Winnington joined Matteo for another enthusiastic round of “We Are the Champions”, the Eiffel Tower lights sparkling behind.’
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed Mrs Rinehart flew the wagyu beef from her farms in Australia to Paris to be prepared by a world-class chef on the boat.
Mrs Rinehart also paid tribute to the under-appreciated support from families that many young Olympians get.
‘The parents of our Olympians are under acknowledged for the time, money, and support through good times as well as others, that they give their children to become outstanding athletes,’ she said.
‘There are the early morning trainings and the after-school trainings, the expense of fuel and travel to competitions and a large grocery bill at home.
‘There’s their sacrifices, extended mortgages, fundraising sausage sizzles and barbecues.
‘Thank you, Olympic parents, for all you do, I very much enjoyed seeing many of you at the Olympics.’
Mrs Rinehart said it was ‘wonderful to hear comments from all over Australia, of how proud our young Olympians made us, and how much Aussies liked seeing them shine at the Olympics’.
‘Warmest congratulations to all our outstanding Olympians,’ she said.
‘Our Olympians are dedicated and hardworking, they put in countless hours of effort which is never seen.
‘They strive for excellence and to make our country proud, all terrific qualities! Such fantastic role models. No one can take away from our Olympians their achievements after years of work and dedication.’
Mrs Rinehart, whose wealth is estimated to be more than $35billion, is patron of Rowing Australia and through her mining company Hancock Prospecting along with her foundation also supports swimming, artistic swimming and beach volleyball.
Since 2012, her investment in Australian Olympic team has been reported at $80million.
‘I don’t say this lightly, but Gina Rinehart saved swimming,’ four-time Olympian Cate Campbell told the Australian Financial Review in 2021.
‘Gina Rinehart stepped in (after many sponsors abandoned ship following the poor London 2012 campaign in the pool).’
‘She made funds available that went directly to athletes.
‘This allowed many athletes – myself included – to see that there was a future career in swimming for us.
‘I’m not sure where a lot of swimming careers would have ended up if there hadn’t been this injection of funds.’
Last year, Mr Rinehart announced a $3million, two-year fund for athletes who medalled in certain sports at Paris, with $20,000 awarded for a gold, with an extra $30,000 for a world record.
The same awards are also made available to Australia’s Paralympians.
Rowers Jess Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre, who claimed Australia’s only medal of the Paris regatta with bronze in the women’s pairs, said they considered Mrs Rinehart to be part of their team
‘To be able to be supported, to be able to almost pursue this sport like it’s a professional job, is really important,’ McIntyre told the Nine network.
‘It’s always so lovely that she makes an effort to be here for us on these special days, and was really a part of the experience,’ Morrison said.
‘She doesn’t watch from afar, she’s really in it with us.’
Winnington’s father Jeff, who is a Swimming Queensland director, also sung Rinehart’s praises after his son’s silver and bronze haul.
‘If it wasn’t for Mrs Rinehart’s contribution there is no way Australia would have done as well on the medal table,’ he told The Australian.
‘She gives them the opportunity to pursue their passion and represent the green and gold without having to go and work because swimming is a full-time job.’
‘It takes a lot of the financial burden off. I know some of the athletes were in tears thinking they were going to have to give up their sport during the dark times when there was not that money flowing through.
‘They were thinking “I will never be an Olympian” and to see that spark again in their eyes. It changes lives. It is such a beautiful relationship she has with the sport.’
Mrs Rinehart said she was looking forward to Australia hosting the games in eight years time.
‘We have ahead the opportunity to make Queensland shine for the 2032 Olympics. I hope the money spent will be invested wisely, and provide infrastructure of benefit for decades ahead,’ she said.
Australia enjoyed its most successful Olympics in Paris winning 18 gold medals, beating the nation’s previous top of 17, with seven of those in the pool.
