The retiring South Australian Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson has been awarded the Olympic Order, the highest award given by the International Olympic Committee.

The South Australian Premier, Mike Rann, made the announcement at a Farewell State Dinner for the Governor in Adelaide on Saturday night.

He read a citation from the President of the IOC Jacques Rogge which said, “Her Excellency, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson , having illustrated the Olympic ideal through her actions, having achieved remarkable merit in the sporting world and having rendered outstanding service to the Olympic Movement through her community work and as Governor of South Australia is hereby awarded the Olympic Order”.

Known as the “Lithgow Flash” Marjorie Jackson became a legend of Australian sport winning two gold medals on the track in the 100m and 200m at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

She finished her career with two Olympic and seven Commonwealth Games gold medals, ten world records and every state and national title she contested from 1950 to 1954.

The President of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates, paid tribute to the Governor.

“Marjorie Jackson is a legend both on and off the track” he said. “What she has done raising funds for cancer and other charitable organisations and more recently as Governor of South Australia has brought enormous credit on herself and the Olympic Movement. She is one of our finest and we are very proud of her”.

Jackson-Nelson will attend the next IOC Session in Beijing in 2008 where she will be presented with her award.

AOC