Olympics: Talking it up in true Aussie style

SYDNEY - No Ashes, beaten by the Kiwis in Sydney for the first time since 1959, no Bledisloe Cup, no golf majors, tennis brat Lleyton Hewitt still can't win that damned Australian Open.

It doesn't sound like a great year for Aussie sports fans but, wait, relief is at hand - they got on the podium in the virtual Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has trumpeted a mythical 48-medal haul, including 20 golds.

If only the Olympics were held this week and not in Beijing in 2008!

Basing their estimate on results at major events this year, the AOC says Advance Australia Fair would belt out three more times than it did at the Olympics in Athens last year.

AOC president John Coates said results from world championships, World Cups and other benchmark events put Australia "amongst [the world's] sports superpowers".

The AOC did not document who performed these glorious deeds.

"This is a sensational result and all credit is due to our athletes, world class coaches, and the excellent programmes provided by our national sporting federations and institutes and academies," Coates enthused.

"The fact that we are now lying third with 48 medals in a post-Olympic year speaks volumes for the current crop of athletes and the hard work being done by our member sports. We are not on the wane by any means."

The United States would have headed the medal count with 82, followed by Russia with 59. No mention was made of New Zealand.

Coates said Australia's tally could increase further with benchmark events still to be held in hockey, tennis, weightlifting, mountain bike, boxing and artistic and rhythmic gymnastics.

He admitted their standing in "bronze medal" position was under threat from China, who are fourth equal with Germany on 45.

- NZPA