The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) today added eight footballers, including four Olyroos, to the Australian Olympic Team for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Amendments to the International Olympic Committees鈥 athlete replacement rules has enabled the AOC to select an additional 16 athletes, making it Australia鈥檚 largest ever Olympic Team for a Games on foreign soil.
Among the additions to the Australian Olympic Team today were men鈥檚 footballers Lachlan Wales, Jordan Holmes (goalkeeper), Marco Tilio, and Cameron Devlin.
The quartet were originally named as train-on players for the team, however are now fully-fledged squad members and will be able to be called upon on matchday by Australia鈥檚 Head Coach, Graham Arnold.
While Australia鈥檚 men鈥檚 football squad now includes 22 players, 18 athletes will be able to be selected on Australia鈥檚 matchday team sheet.
Australia鈥檚 Olyroos are currently based in Ichihara, Japan. The squad played a training match on Monday evening against New Zealand, with 19 members of the 22 player squad clocking up valuable match minutes.
MATCH REPORT:
The team will continue their preparations for the Games proper with on Thursday afternoon.
The Olyroos will travel to Sapporo on Saturday, where Group C games against Argentina (22/7) and Spain (25/7) await. Australia鈥檚 third Group Stage match of the Tokyo 2020 Men鈥檚 Football Tournament will be held at the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu against Egypt on July 28.
The Australian Olympic Team now stands at 488, bettering the mark at Athens in 2004 with 482.
Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman said the Tokyo Games are building into something that will capture Australia鈥檚 imagination.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always said this Australian Team deserves a special place in history. But this is an unexpected milestone, and a positive one. I am really pleased for the athletes who now have this opportunity, just as I am disappointed when we lose athletes through the misfortunes that are a part of sport,鈥 Mr Chesterman said.
鈥淪o, here we are just nine days until the Opening Ceremony, and I am in the position to congratulate all 488 athletes for their enormous effort to make it to Tokyo.
鈥淭he athletes announced today鈥 have been given an incredible opportunity and I am sure they will represent Australia with pride.
鈥淲e know these Games will be different, and the regulations allowing for extended squads in these sports is a welcome adaptation that will assist our teams to be at their best in Tokyo,鈥 he said.
International Friendly 鈥 Australia v New Zealand
Date: Monday, 15 July 2021
Venue: ZA Oripri Stadium, Ichihara City, Japan
Kick-off: 6pm local; 7pm AEST
Match Updates: www.twitter.com/Socceroos
Tokyo 2020 Men鈥檚 Football Tournament 鈥 Group C
Match 1: Argentina v Australia
Date: Thursday, 22 July 2021
Venue: Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan
Kick-off: 7:30pm local; 8:30pm AEST
Broadcast: Seven Network
Match 2: Australia v Spain
Date: Sunday, 25 July 2021
Venue: Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan
Kick-off: 7:30pm local; 8:30pm AEST
Broadcast: Seven Network
Match 3: Australia v Egypt
Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2021
Venue: Miyagi Stadium, Rifu, Japan
Kick-off: 8pm local; 9pm AEST
Broadcast: Seven Network
