Melbourne ¨C One of sport¡¯s most enduring premierships ended on Saturday as John Coates stepped down as Australian Olympic Committee president after a 32-year reign that secured two Games for his nation and left a string of opponents trampled in his wake.
Dodgy hips prevented the 71-year-old from standing at the AOC¡¯s annual general meeting in Sydney, and he choked up with emotion at the end of his final president¡¯s address while thanking Australians for the chance to live his dreams.
Yet in all other ways, Coates was in control, basking in the warmth of a room filled with sports officials who have profited from his power and influence on the global stage.
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