Olympic farewell fares very well
THE Australian Olympic campaign was expected to receive a $2 million boost tonight from a fundraising dinner in Melbourne attended by athletes past and present, politicians and corporate identities.
The Prime Minister's farewell dinner, where tables cost $25,000, was expected to break records, taking the total raised for our 400-member team to $6 million, Olympic bosses said.
Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan and Opposition leader Tony Abbott attended, as did Kevin Rudd and Victoria's Premier Ted Baillieu.
The most notable absentee was the event's namesake, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who was returning from the G20 in Mexico and the Earth Summit in Rio. She pre-recorded a video address for the event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Among the guests were gold medallists Dawn Fraser, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, Kieren Perkins, James Tomkins and Shane Gould.
Read more at Brisbanetimes.com.au
