SYDNEY, 2 February 2010: Australia’s most successful Olympian Ian Thorpe today announced that he intends to compete at the trials for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and that the Virgin Australia Airlines has played a major role and will act as his official airline.

At a media conference in Sydney, Ian confirmed that he had applied this morning to be reinstated on the international drug-testing register.

Speaking at a press conference today, Ian said: “While there was a time in my life that I thought I would never swim competitively again, things have changed, and I’m very excited to once again be back in the pool.”

“When I initially spoke with Virgin Blue about the prospect of competing again at the Olympics, I wasn’t completely sure that I would be able to do it, but they were happy to back me. In fact, I told them it was a 50/50 chance and they wanted to support me regardless.

“Today I can say that I am now 100% mentally and physically committed to competing at the Olympic trials and am doing all in my power to best prepare for them and beyond.”

The partnership between Ian Thorpe and Virgin Australia will see Virgin Australia as Ian’s official airline, supporting him in his training program for the Olympic Games.

Ian Thorpe celebrated 10 years of Fountain for youth at an intimate celebration on the foreshores of the beautiful Sydney Harbour, in what promised to be a night of magic.

Ian reflected on the past 10 years of his work at Fountain for youth and his partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The evening celebrated the richness of Indigenous Culture, guests heard from Indigenous education leaders and voices from the heartland and experienced the sounds of the Songmen.

Guests heard of Ian’s life-long commitment to lend a hand to help all of our children grow stronger and smarter and he asked guets to ’come together for tomorrow’!

The Dinner was held on Wednesday 24 November 201 at Guillaume at bennelong, Sydney Opera House.  It was ten years to the day that Ian launched his charity ‘Fountain for youth’ as a teenager, just after the Sydney Olympics.

Special Guests attending the Dinner were the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Marie Bashir, Sir Nicholas Shehadie, leading Indigenous Educator Dr Chris Sarra, NSW Young Australian of the Year Jack Manning Bancroft, CEO of AIME, Catherine Freeman, Olympian and Founder of the Catherine Freeman Foundation, Tom E Lewis, Indigenous songwriter, flimaker, musican and many more friends who came together to celebrate the work being carried out by strong Aboriginal families, the students, teachers, health workers, story tellers and musicans.

Ian would like to sincerely thank the following organisations for their generous contributions towards the Anniversary Dinner:  Guillaume and the Staff at Guillaume and Bennelong, Giorgio Armani and Mary Chiew, Emirates, Canturi – Stefano Canturi, Sydney Theatre Company and Cate Blanchett, VOMO Resort Fiji  and Virgin Blue, Louis Vuitton and Philip Corne, Catherine Freeman and the many who dedicated their time and efforts towards ensuring the Dinner was one to remember!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE EVENINGS PHOTO GALLERY

“There is not ever a turning point in one’s life where it is any more important than another to give to those who are less fortunate than yourself. At Fountain for youth we have always endeavored to deliver the best possible outcomes for our brothers and sisters who need a helping hand to survive the constant current working against them.

The work that my charity is undertaking is amongst the proudest accomplishments in my life and though my work is incomplete, I have made a life-time commitment to fulfill the outcomes that we all dream of today. It is not an easy path that we chose to take, but it is the right path. We listen to and learn from our partners and the Indigenous people we work closely with and are reminded that we are on track. We will continue to work side by side to shape the future we want for all our children”.