Rio Tinto will be backing our Australian athletes to achieve their dreams at the London 2012 Olympic Games as a partner of the Australian Olympic Team.

Rio Tinto announced that it will be supporting the Australian Team through a partner level sponsorship with the Australian Olympic Committee.

Mr David Peever Rio Tinto managing director Australia said that "Australia has a proud history of Olympic success and we want that tradition to continue as our athletes strive for glory in London. Australians are fierce sporting competitors and there is no doubt that we will witness some amazing achievements from our athletes at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

He added "Rio Tinto's own values of accountability, respect, teamwork and integrity are in tune with those of the Australian Olympic Team and we are thrilled to partner with the AOC and help our athletes achieve success in London. Our Olympians will inspire the nation with their courage and dedication to achieve their absolute best. Rio Tinto's 20,000 employees across Australia will be right behind the Australian team. We wish our athletes every success in London."

AOC president John Coates said that "Rio Tinto's sponsorship makes it possible for our Australian athletes to achieve their lifelong goals and hopefully Olympic Games success in 2012. Our Australian athletes are incredibly grateful for Rio Tinto's generous support of our Olympic Team. We hope that through the support shown by Rio Tinto, we can inspire and encourage more young Australians to participate in sport and be our Olympians of tomorrow."

Athletes from around the world who achieve gold, silver and bronze success in London will also benefit from Rio Tinto's support at the 2012 Olympic Games. Rio Tinto is the 'Official Mining and Metals Provider' to London 2012.

The metal will come from opposite sides of the globe, from Rio Tinto's Kennecott Utah Copper mine in Salt Lake City, USA, and the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia. London 2012 marks the second time Rio Tinto has supplied the metals for the medals, having previously done so for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games in 2002.

Rio Tinto's Olympic sponsorship is just one of many ways the company has been backing Australians for more than 100 years. Rio Tinto Australia invests more than AUD 100 million a year in programmes and activities that assist regional communities, young Australians and Indigenous communities to achieve their long-term goals.