SportsLink Travel and the Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAUS) today announced the extension of their longstanding partnership, ensuring Australia’s Olympic combat athletes will receive dedicated sports travel management support through the LA2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Since CombatAUS’s inception, the SportsLink Travel CombatAUS partnership has provided specialised travel services for the institute’s high performance programs across Judo, Taekwondo, and Wrestling. During this period, CombatAUS athletes have achieved remarkable success, including three Olympic medals across Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, unprecedented medal performances on the Judo World Tour, Taekwondo Grand Prix Series and World Taekwondo Championships success since 2021, and Wrestling’s best Senior World Championships result in over two decades.
“High performance sport demands precision in every aspect of preparation, and travel is no exception,” said Paul Kelly, CEO of SportsLink Travel. “When athletes are competing at the Olympic level, the last thing they should be thinking about is logistics. That’s our job. We’ve been supporting CombatAUS since day one, and extending this partnership through LA2028 and Brisbane 2032 shows the confidence they have in our ability to deliver seamless travel experiences.”
CombatAUS CEO Alex Vallentine is excited to extend this partnership with an organisation that has supported CombatAUS since its inception: “Our partnership with SportsLink Travel has been integral to the success of CombatAUS since we began operating in 2021. SportsLink Travel understands the unique demands of international sport, and their expertise allows our teams to focus on performance. This extended agreement supports the continued growth and professionalism of our high performance programs as we look ahead to LA2028 and a home Olympic Games in Brisbane 2032.”
Sports-exclusive travel management differs significantly from standard corporate or leisure travel. The SportsLink Travel CombatAUS partnership coordinates complex international movements involving competition schedules, training camps, altitude preparation, acclimatisation requirements, and equipment transport — all while navigating visa regulations, biosecurity protocols, and varying time zones that can impact athlete performance.
SportsLink Travel, established in 2002, has grown into Australia’s only sports-exclusive travel management business. With offices in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and New Zealand, the company manages hundreds of trips annually for thousands of athletes, staff, officials and supporters. In 2025, the company was recognised as “Agency of the Year” from over 450 agents as the largest member of Flight Centre Travel Group’s Envoyage independent network.
The extension comes at a pivotal time for Australian combat sports, with LA2028 representing the next major benchmark on the four-year Olympic cycle, followed by the unique opportunity of a home Games in Brisbane 2032. The SportsLink Travel CombatAUS partnership will provide continuity and institutional knowledge as athletes prepare for these campaigns, building on the systems and relationships that have contributed to recent medal success.
“What we’ve learned from two decades in sports travel is that consistency matters,” Kelly added. “Athletes and high performance staff work with the same travel coordinators year after year. We understand their preferences, their requirements, and the pressures they face. That continuity becomes a competitive advantage.”
Beyond elite athlete support, the SportsLink Travel CombatAUS partnership facilitates broader combat sports community engagement. SportsLink Travel manages supporter travel for major competitions, enables family and friends to be present at career-defining moments, and coordinates travel for CombatAUS staff attending international competitions and development programs.
The Combat Institute of Australia leads elite high performance programs across the Australian Olympic combat sports of Judo, Taekwondo, and Wrestling. As a purely high performance-focused organisation, CombatAUS partners with its Member Sports to deliver sustained international success, secure investment and provide athletes with comprehensive performance support.
SportsLink Travel currently holds official partnerships with more than 50 State and National Sporting Organisations, providing travel management for events ranging from grassroots competitions to Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and professional leagues globally.
About SportsLink Travel
SportsLink Travel is Australia’s only sports-exclusive travel management business. Since 2002, the company has created unforgettable experiences for athletes, teams, and supporters. With offices in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and New Zealand, SportsLink Travel manages hundreds of trips annually as the largest member of Flight Centre Travel Group’s Envoyage network. In 2025, SportsLink Travel was awarded “Agency of the Year” from over 450 agents.
Website: www.sportslinktravel.com
About CombatAUS
The Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAUS) leads elite high performance programs across the Australian Olympic combat sports of Judo, Taekwondo, and Wrestling. CombatAUS partners with its Member Sports to deliver sustained international success, secure investment and provide athletes with comprehensive performance support. Under CombatAUS management, high performance programs have delivered three Olympic medals across Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Website: www.combataus.com.au
