AOC: The Vice President of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), Helen Brownlee, has been awarded the Olympic Order for her contribution to world sport and her dedication to upholding the Olympic ideals.
The presentations was made by Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the Oceania National Olympic Committee’s General Assembly in Fiji.
Brownlee was taken by surprise and thrilled with the recognition.
“This honour was totally unexpected, but so very special to be awarded in the presence of my Oceania Olympic “family”, who have shared this journey with me," Brownlee said.
The IOC paid tribute to four distinguished members of the Oceania Olympic Family at the Assembly. Roseline Blake from the Cook Islands, Lord Tevita Tupou from Tonga and Joe Bomal Carlo from Vanuatu were also awarded the Olympic Order.
Brownlee has been a pioneer for women in sport and is the first female Vice President of the AOC. She has devoted much of her life to her sport of canoeing, first as a competitor, then as an official at six Olympic Games and finally as an administrator.
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