John Calvert-Jones Recognised with Australian Olympic Committee Order of Merit

John Calvert-Jones (R) with Bob Oatley (L) and Victor Kovalenko at Audi Hamilton Island Race Week. Image copyright Andrea Francolini.

by Craig Heydon

Yachting Australia would like to congratulate John Calvert-Jones AM on being recognised for his contribution to sailing and the Olympic movement with an Order of Merit from the Australian Olympic Committee.

Calvert-Jones has been a long time supporter of sailing in Australia and is heavily involved in the Australian Sailing Team as Chairman of the Team’s Patrons group.

The Patrons group, under the leadership of Calvert-Jones, played a significant role in the team’s success at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with members providing direct financial support and guidance to athletes.

Australian sailors won three gold and one silver medal at London 2012, with the country topping the sailing medal table. Sailing was also Australia’s most successful sport at the Games, and this success was due in no small part to the contribution made by the Patrons group.

Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones congratulated John Calvert-Jones on receiving the Order of Merit, acknowledging his continued support for the Australian Sailing Team.

“John was one of our original Patrons prior to Beijing 2008 and through his leadership the program has continued to grow and provide invaluable support to our sailors,” said Jones. “The Order of Merit from the Australian Olympic Committee is great recognition for John’s contribution to the sport and we’re thrilled to say that he’ll continue as Chairman of the Patrons group in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Australian Sailing Team’s Patrons for their support before, during and after the London 2012 Olympic Games,” said Jones. “We took an exceptional group of sailors to the Games who were able to focus on their on-water performances thanks to the support provided by our committed group of Patrons.”

John Calvert-Jones AM will be recognised at the Australian Olympic Committee Annual General Meeting in Sydney on Saturday, receiving the Order of Merit alongside Gary Fenton, Peter Fox AM, Alan Grover, David Prince OAM and Gerry Ryan OAM.

For more information on Yachting Australia visit www.yachting.org.au, more on the Australian Sailing Team can be found at www.australiansailingteam.com.au or follow the Team on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AusSailingTeam.