Aussie minister loses Olympic bet

LONDON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The Australian sports minister said she will row the London Olympic course in Team Great Britain apparel as part of a losing bet with her British counterpart.

Sen. Kate Lundy said she will row the course in the British team colors after losing the traditional bet with High Robertson on which country would win the most gold medals during the London 2012 Games, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Lundy conceded the bet Tuesday when she said Team Australia would not be able to catch up in the medal race.

The British team currently has 48 medals, including 22 golds, 13 silvers and 13 bronzes. Meanwhile, Australia has only 25 medals, including four golds, 12 silvers and nine bronzes.

"I cheerfully conceded I will be rowing out at Eton Dorney, we did have our medal bet on in our traditional wager. This time, you guys are on top," said Lundy, a former top rower. "Equally if it was the other way round, I'm sure Minister Robertson would have been cheerful enough to put on a Kookaburras' shirt and dribble that hockey ball around Australia House, but that won't be happening."