AOC chief praises Maccabiah prep
Kitty Chiller has heaped praise on the management group responsible for Australia’s 589-strong team for the Maccabiah Games.
ONE of Australian sport’s most high profile administrators, Kitty Chiller, has heaped praise on the management group responsible for Australia’s 589-strong team for the Maccabiah Games, telling The AJN last week she knows the athletes “are in good hands”.
The Australian Olympic Committee’s chef de mission was keynote speaker at a two-day Maccabiah Australia leadership summit in Wollongong earlier this month, as final preparations are made for the third-largest sports event in the world, which begins in Israel on July 4.
Chiller shared insights with the Australian team’s senior management, head coaches, medical, media and security staff, about how to build resilience, a strong team culture and stay true to a defined set of values.
“Everyone I met at the summit was so enthusiastic and committed to their roles, eager to learn and dedicated to ensuring their respective teams were as best prepared as they could be,” Chiller said.
“Tom York [head of the Australian delegation] is a seasoned Games campaigner, and I know the team will be in great hands.
“I have no doubt that the entire team will be very well looked after.”
Chiller said she has “a very high regard” for the Maccabiah Games as a showcase for talented Jewish sportsmen and women of all ages.
“The great thing about the Games is that they cater for juniors and masters as well as the open categories.
“There are also a lot of opportunities for coaches and managers to get involved and contribute.”
Her main advice at the summit was to ensure that a solid set of policies and procedures was discussed within the team prior to the Games, so that everyone knew their roles and understood the team’s vision.
It was important “they know that every single official, no matter what their role, is valued and valuable,” she said.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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