Anna Meares reappointed Chef de Mission for LA 2028
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) announced today that Anna Meares will lead the Australian Olympic Team as Chef de Mission at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Volleyball Australia has welcomed the decision to reappoint such a popular leader for the Paris 2024 Olympic team.
“Anna Meares proved to be a wonderful Chef de Mission not only in Paris but importantly in the preparation for it,” said Andrew Dee, Volleyball Australia CEO.
“She is highly-respected by the sporting community and the athletes look up to her as someone who has walked in their shoes and knows what is required to support them to perform at the highest level.
“Anna surrounded herself with a really strong team of deputies who are equally important with an Olympic team the size of Australia’s.
“Volleyball Australia is already planning for LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032, knowing the AOC is also already putting the pillars in place, gives us confidence that our athletes will again be expertly led and supported throughout this Olympic cycle.”
AOC President Ian Chesterman says the AOC Executive moved quickly to reappoint Ms Meares’ after her outstanding work leading the Australian Team to Paris 2024.
“Anna showed great leadership heading up to the Games and then during the Games and the feedback from the athletes, our sports and all the support staff has been overwhelmingly positive about the way she operated and related to them,” Mr Chesterman said.
“The Australian Team, which totaled 467 athletes, was united and performed brilliantly both on and off the field of play, and Anna was pivotal to the wonderful outcomes achieved in Paris.”
Australia recorded its best-ever Games performance with 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze medals, finishing fourth on the medal table.
“Anna’s leadership is authentic leadership and is underpinned by her absolute commitment to the athletes first and foremost,” Mr Chesterman said. “That commitment was unwavering and inspired.
“This was reflected in her contribution to the detailed planning undertaken ahead of the Games as well as successfully negotiating a path through the Games-time environment.
“She built a great team around her and empowered people to bring their passion and expertise to what was a hugely successful campaign. It is a tough job but she did it brilliantly.
“I am delighted that Anna had no hesitation in saying ‘yes’ to taking on the opportunities and challenges presented by Los Angeles in four years’ time.”
Ms Meares says she has had time to reflect on the Paris experience and was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to lead the Australian Team again.
“I knew that if the offer was made, my answer would be yes. Working with the athletes, the sports and with the AOC team behind the scenes was an extraordinary experience for me.
“It was important for every athlete to know that they were supported and central to our Team. Not every athlete can achieve the outcome they train so hard to achieve, but they and their support network are so critical to the overall Team and environment.
“Since the Games I have enjoyed a wonderful break with my family but importantly have also been involved in taking the lessons from Paris into our planning for Los Angeles. LA 2028 will be a very different challenge again.
“A spread-out Games, new sports on the program, the prospect of a bigger Team – all of this makes me excited about Los Angeles and knuckling down with the AOC team to get that preparation moving,” Ms Meares said.
The LA Olympic Games will take place between July 14 to 30. Squash, along with Cricket, Lacrosse, Flag Football, Baseball and Softball, have been added to the program with Australia expected to have more than 500 athletes on its Olympic Team.
