Article by Sean Smith courtesy of the West Australian.
Wesfarmers chief executive and dual Olympian Rob Scott has welcomed Gina Hancock’s financial support of rowing, saying it has helped keep aspiring gold medallists off the bread line.
Mr Scott rowed for Australia in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and in Atlanta four years later, winning a silver medal in the men’s pair at the latter Games.
Married to another Olympian, 2000 water polo gold medallist Liz Weekes, he is also chairman of Rowing Australia, where Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting is the principal sponsor.
The company last week pulled a $15 million sponsorship of Netball Australia after the national team raised concerns about the relationship, triggering broader questioning of the company’s suitability as a sponsor.
However, Mr Scott on Thursday suggested Australia could not afford to be losing sport sponsorships.
“Corporate sponsorship is really important for sport. And it is a time when we should be encouraging more corporate sponsorship and more government funding of sports, particularly Olympics sports, given that we have the Olympics in Australia in Brisbane in 10 years time,” he said.
“As a rower and a chairman of Rowing Australia, our athletes really benefit from the support of the Australian Sports Commission (and) the support of Hancock Prospecting for example.
“Often a lot of our Olympic rowers, similar to other Olympic sports, earn less than the minimum wage and so they are deeply grateful for the corporate support we get, and long should it continue.”
Mr Scott was responding to questions after Wesfarmers’ annual general meeting in Perth.
