CANBERRA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has thrown its support behind the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
At its annual general meeting on Saturday, AOC president Ian Chesterman announced the organization has decided to support the 'yes' vote at the upcoming referendum, which is expected to be held in the second half of 2023.
In the referendum, a proposed law is to alter the Constitution to recognize the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, which will advise Parliament on issues relating to Indigenous communities.
Saturday's announcement makes the AOC one of the first sporting bodies to declare a position on the referendum.
Chesterman said the decision to support the proposal was made during a meeting of the AOC Executive and AOC Athletes' Commission on Friday.
"The AOC is an organization that believes reconciliation with our First Nations people must be achieved," he said in a statement on Saturday.
"We have committed ourselves to pursue reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through sport. That goal was embedded in our constitution back in 2015."
Patrick Johnson, chair of the AOC Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), said support for the 'yes' position was overwhelming. ■
